Djokovic's Indian Wells Journey Cut Short by Van de Zandschulp
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Synopsis
In a surprising turn of events at the Indian Wells Open, five-time champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the first round by lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp. This defeat marks Djokovic's third consecutive loss, raising concerns about his performance amidst ongoing injury challenges.
Key Takeaways
- Novak Djokovic lost to Botic van de Zandschulp in the first round.
- This is Djokovic's third loss in a row, a rare occurrence for him.
- Djokovic is dealing with injuries that have affected his recent performances.
- Van de Zandschulp is gaining recognition for defeating top players.
- The match showcased the challenges Djokovic faced on different court surfaces.
Indian Wells, March 9 (NationPress) Novak Djokovic, a five-time champion, faced an unexpected defeat in the first round of the Indian Wells Open against lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp on Sunday (IST).
Van de Zandschulp stunned Djokovic with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1, enhancing his reputation for upsetting top players. He became the second consecutive lucky loser to triumph over Djokovic at Indian Wells, following Luca Nardi last year.
This marks Djokovic's third consecutive loss, a streak he hasn't experienced since 2018 during an injury-plagued season. He has also struggled with injuries in 2025, sustaining a hamstring issue at the Australian Open.
“It was just a disappointing day for me. I regret not showcasing my usual level of tennis, especially given how well I've been practicing. The difference in ball bounce between the center court and other courts is significant; the ball bounces much higher on center courts than on many clay courts,” Djokovic commented.
After retiring in his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev, losing to Matteo Berrettini in his opener at Doha, and now falling to Van de Zandschulp, this is only the second time since 2008 that Djokovic has lost three matches in a row (the last time being during the 2018 Australian Open to Miami).
Djokovic, who holds the record for the most titles (40), finals (59), and semi-finals (78) at the ATP Masters 1000 level, missed the chance to tie with Rafael Nadal for the most match wins in Masters 1000 history, although he already has the most Masters titles.
Van de Zandschulp took advantage of an unusually error-prone first set from Djokovic and demonstrated impressive shot-making to secure victory in two hours and one minute. This win marks Van de Zandschulp's eighth against a Top 10 opponent and his first back-to-back victories on the ATP Tour in 2025, according to ATP reports.
The 29-year-old Van de Zandschulp has a more substantial reputation than his Italian counterpart, having defeated Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal last season, along with a win over Nick Kyrgios earlier this week.
