Serbian scientists have named a new species of beetle after tennis great Novak Djokovic due to its speed, strength, flexibility, durability and ability to survive in a difficult environment, Serbian media reported on Friday.

The insect, which belongs to the Duvalius genus of ground beetles that are present in Europe, was discovered several years ago in an underground pit in western Serbia. It is named Duvalius Dokovici, the Tanjug news agency quoted researcher Nikola Vesovic as saying. Vesovic said that a new species was a specialised underground Coleoptera beetle, a predator which had lost its eyes living deep underground.

“I proposed to name the new species after Djokovic,” Vesovic was quoted as saying. “He is the man who did much for this country. We feel urged to pay him back in the way we can.” Novak vs Medvedev Novak didn’t play as well in his Astana Open quarter final on Friday as he did in the first two rounds.

“Still, it was enough,” Djokovic said after beating Karen Khachanov 6-4, 6-3. Djokovic conceded a 3-0 lead but broke Khachanov for the first set with a backhand volley. He broke Khachanov for 3-1 in the second and finished their quarter final with an ace. Daniil Medvedev awaits in the semi-finals. Medvedev has a 4-6 win-loss record against Djokovic and they haven’t met since the Paris final last November, when Djokovic won in three sets. “I thought about it before the (quarter final) and we have only played one tournament together this year, which was Roland Garros,” Medvedev said.

“This is the second one and we meet again and I am really happy.” Medvedev was too consistent and good for Roberto Bautista Agut, winning 6-1, 6-1. Bautista Agut went in with 4-1 record against Medvedev but was blown away. The other semi-final pits third-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas against fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev.