Serbian tennis maestro Novak Djokovic faced an unexpected setback as he suffered a shocking defeat against World No. 123 Luca Nardi in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open, marking his second disappointment of the season. After the win Lucas said “I thinks it is a miracle”, I am just 20 year old.
Struggling to impose his authority on the court, Djokovic found himself outplayed by Nardi, who exhibited aggressive play to secure victory in three sets.
Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic expressed his surprise and frustration, stating, “He got in as a lucky loser to the main draw, so he really didn’t have anything to lose, so he played great. Deserved to win. I was more surprised with my level. My level was really, really bad. These two things come together. He’s having a great day; I’m having a really bad day. Results as a negative outcome for me.”
Djokovic’s appearance at the BNP Paribas Open marked his return to competition since his defeat in the semi-finals of the Australian Open in January. Despite a hard-fought victory over Aleksandar Vukic in his opening match at Indian Wells, the 36-year-old faltered against Lucas Nardi, failing to showcase his usual caliber of play.
Struggling to find his rhythm, Novak Djokovic managed just two winners in the third set compared to Nardi’s impressive tally of 16, while his second-serve points won stood at a mere 42 percent (16/38).
Novak Djokovic Acknowledges Shortcomings and hails Lucas Performance
Acknowledging his opponent’s performance and his own shortcomings, Djokovic remarked, “I helped him play well, and I didn’t help myself at all. I made some really terrible unforced errors. Just quite defensive tennis, and not much on the ball in the third and that’s it. He just stepped in and he used the time that he had. He was playing more free and more aggressive than I did and going for his shots and that break on 3-2 in the third was enough.”
Djokovic’s defeat comes as a surprise to many, especially considering his impressive track record at Indian Wells, where he was eyeing a record sixth title. This loss marks only the second time in six years, following 2022, that the 98-time tour-level champion has failed to secure a title by March.
Expressing concern over his form, Djokovic emphasized his determination to find solutions, stating, “No titles this year. That’s not something I’m used to. I was starting the season most of my career with a Grand Slam win or a Dubai win or any tournament. It is part of the sport. You just have to accept it. Some you win; some you lose. Hopefully I’ll win some more and still keep going.”
He added, “I guess every trophy that eventually comes my way is going to be great. Obviously to break the kind of negative cycle a little bit I’m having in the last three, four tournaments where I haven’t really been close to my best.”
