Serbian tennis ace Dusan Lajovic had to be rushed to hospital after suffering a freak injury while away at the Davis Cup. Lajovic is part of the Serbian team facing Chile in the first round of the international competition and lost to Tomas Barrios Vera in his opening singles outing. When heading back to the locker room the 35-year-old is reported to have collided with a glass panel. He has been taken to hospital after suffering a head injury in the incident, with medics due to undertake further tests.
According to Clay Tennis, Lajovic remained conscious as he was taken to Clínica Universidad de Los Andes in Santiago, Chile. The world No.125 is reported to have suffered cranial contusion, a cut to the oral mucosa and possible loosening of teeth. He had lost to Barrios at Estadio Nacional in the same city, with team-mate Ognjen Milic beaten by Alejandro Tabilo in three sets. Speaking after the defeat, Lajovic expressed concern about the umpire failing to control a partisan home crowd during his straight sets loss.
“It was tough to play here, where we knew we wouldn’t receive fair play, but that’s the Davis Cup and I don’t think the match was decided by that,” Lajovic said in a press conference after his defeat. “Obviously, we were prepared for some provocation. Most people came to enjoy the tennis, but there were a few in the stands who were disrespectful…
“One guy was telling me, ‘you’re bad, you’re bad’. There’s no need to talk to players. Obviously, it’s not something you want to hear while you’re competing on court.”
He added: “The umpire should have done a better job of keeping conditions similar for both players before the serve. In any case, my opponent was better and played better in the key moments.”
Serbia are previous Davis Cup winners, with Novak Djokovic helping them claim glory in 2010. However, the Australian Open finalist hasn’t played in the competition since 2024.
Last year saw Miomir Kecmanovic and Hamad Medjedovic play both singles and doubles in a first round qualifying defeat to Denmark. This year it’s Lajovic and Milic in the singles while twin brothers Matej and Ivan Sabanov team up in the doubles.
Great Britain have fared better in their first round adventures against Norway in Oslo. Jack Draper and Cam Norrie both secured straight sets victories in their singles opener before Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool claimed a doubles win to clinch victory before the second set of singles games were played, setting up a second round qualifier against either Ecuador or Australia.
“I’m really delighted, very proud of what the players have done,” Great Britain’s Davis Cup captain Leon Smith said after the win. “The beginning of the tie with Casper Ruud not being able to play changes the dynamics, but then our guys have to go and deliver.”