INDIAN WELLS: Novak Djokovic waited five years to return to Indian Wells but the Serbian’s campaign in the California desert ended much quicker than anyone expected after 20-year-old Luca Nardi produced a stunning 6-4 3-6 6-3 upset on Monday.
The world number one has not competed in the tournament since 2019 due to US travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and his hopes of a record sixth title were dashed by the 123rd seed.
“He really had nothing to lose so he played great. Deserved to win,” Djokovic told reporters. “I was more surprised by my level. My level was really, really bad.” These two things go together. He’s having a great day, I’m having a really bad day.’
While Djokovic was uncharacteristically sloppy, Nardi was sharp, running around the court and pounding serves and forehands to defeat the 24-time Grand Slam champion he grew up idolizing.
“I made some really terrible unforced errors,” Djokovic said. “Just pretty defensive tennis and not much on the ball in the third, and that’s it. He just stepped up and took advantage of the time he had.”
“He played more freely and aggressively than me, he went for his shots and that break for 3-2 in the third was enough.”
Djokovic, who lost to fellow Italian Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semi-finals in January, said he was likely to take to the court in search of his first title of the year at the Miami Open later this month.
“No titles this year, it’s not something I’m used to,” he said.
“Most of my career I’ve started the season by winning a Grand Slam or, you know, winning in Dubai or whatever tournament,” he said. “I think any trophy that eventually comes my way is going to be great, of course I’m going to break. that kind of negative cycle a bit
I’ve had the last three, four tournaments where I haven’t really been close to my best.”
