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Vucic Stops Djokovic; Loses in
Nationals Final
 Having
soundly defeated another rising star
of the Djokovic family to reach the
final of the 1st
Individual Championship of Serbia
Under-18s, Ilija Vucic fell just
short of claiming the title after a
6-4, 7-5 loss to Arsenije Zlatanovic.
Ilija lost just two games against
Markjo Djokovic, the 15-year-old
brother of World No. 4 Novak, as he
breezed into the final with a 6-0,
6-2 victory. However, the final was
a step too far as the more
experienced Zlatanovic came through
a high quality encounter.
Ilija was broken at 5-4 in the first
set to lose the opener, and led 3-1
in the second before Zlatanovic won
three consecutive games. The
16-year-old Ilija had break points
at 5-5 in the second but could not
convert, as Zlatanovic wrapped up
his win.
“I was leading the game all the
time, but when it was important, I
lost my concentration and I was
missing very easy balls,” said Ilija.
“I was not moving through the ball
that well on my returns in the first
set, but in the second was much
better.”
The 17-year-old Zlatanovic has spent
most of the 2007 season playing
Futures tournaments on the senior
circuit, and his experience told.
Coach Igor Tomasevic added: “Ilija
was hanging on to the end with a
dominant game. He has established
himself as a new person and player
back home, and everybody’s happy
except Ilija and me.”
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