Novak Djokovic’s quest for a sixth Indian Wells ATP Masters title ended abruptly on Saturday as he suffered a shocking defeat in his opening match. The 24-time Grand Slam champion lost to Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp with a score of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Djokovic, who committed 37 unforced errors, struggled with his game throughout the match. This early exit comes after his third-round loss to another lucky loser, Luca Nardi, in last year’s tournament.
The Serbian star acknowledged his struggles but refused to blame external factors. “I mean, it’s always something happening, but I don’t want to talk about it. No excuses for a poor performance … just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me,” Djokovic said after the match.
Djokovic’s Recent Struggles Continue
The world No. 1 has had a tough start to the 2024 season. He withdrew from the Australian Open semi-final due to a hamstring injury and suffered an early exit in Doha last month.
Against van de Zandschulp, Djokovic started poorly, making 14 unforced errors in the first set. He regained some control in the second set, breaking early for a 3-0 lead and leveling the match. However, the momentum swung again in the final set, as van de Zandschulp dominated the decider.
Van de Zandschulp Stuns Djokovic
Despite Djokovic’s experience, the Dutch player maintained his composure and delivered a clinical performance. The turning point came when he broke Djokovic’s serve at 3-1 in the final set and went on to win five consecutive games.
“The first three, four games of the third set were quite close. Had my chances. Just some awful mistakes. When I reflect on this match, obviously, I’ll see a little bit more what I could have done,” Djokovic admitted.
Uncertainty Over Miami Open Participation
Djokovic’s next move remains uncertain, as he has yet to confirm his participation in the Miami Open. “I still haven’t talked with Andy and the team, so going to do that and make a plan,” he stated.
For now, the Serbian legend will have to regroup as he looks to regain his form ahead of the key tournaments later in the season.