The upset against rising Italian sensation Luca Nardi at Indian Wells 2024 marked a significant moment for Djokovic. Despite being the top seed, Djokovic faced challenges in the match, failing to produce a break point in the opening set. Nardi capitalized on his chance, securing the sole break point in the fifth game and ultimately winning the opener..
Djokovic took the initiative in the second set by breaking his 16-years-junior opponent in the third game. However, Nardi quickly leveled the score at 2-2. Undeterred, Djokovic secured another break in the sixth game, maintaining his lead and ultimately forcing a decider at Indian Wells..
In the deciding set, Luca Nardi elevated his game, impressively hitting 16 winners compared to Novak Djokovic’s two. Securing a crucial break in the sixth game, Nardi surged to a 5-2 lead and ultimately closed out the match with a scoreline of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, causing a major upset against the World No. 1 at Indian Wells..
“I’m thrilled to secure my first victory over a World No. 1. It’s a significant moment for me, and I appreciate the opportunity to compete at this level. This win means a lot, and I’ll continue to strive for more success on the tennis court.”.
“Before this night no one knew me. I hope that now the crowd enjoyed the game and I’m super happy with this one,” the World
No. 123 said in his on-court interview..
Luca Nardi’s journey from failing to make the main draw to defeating Novak Djokovic is a remarkable turn of events. Djokovic’s loss to Nardi in Indian Wells marks his first career defeat against a lucky loser, adding an unexpected chapter to both players’ experiences in the tournament.
The Indian Wells defeat to Luca Nardi is indeed a historic moment as it marks Novak Djokovic’s first career loss against a lucky loser, highlighting the unpredictability and competitiveness of tennis at the highest level.
“I don’t know man, really, I don’t know. I think it is a miracle. Because you know, I’m a 20-years-old guy, 100 in the world, beating Novak. So, crazy, crazy,”
the 20-year-old said.
Luca Nardi on compatriot Jannik Sinner’s impact on his performance against Novak Djokovic in Indian Wells: “It is something that pushed me”.
Nardi pictured at the 2024 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells
Luca Nardi’s victory over Novak Djokovic makes him the second Italian to defeat the Serbian player this year. Djokovic’s earlier loss occurred in the semifinals of the 2024 Australian Open against eventual champion Jannik Sinner. Italy’s presence in top-level tennis is certainly making an impact..
“Sinner’s influence on my latest performance has been substantial. His success against Djokovic and the remarkable winning streak in 2024 have set a high standard. It’s inspiring to see fellow Italians making such strides in tennis, and I hope to build on this momentum in my own journey.”.
“Sinner’s impressive record against Djokovic has certainly set a benchmark, and his current 17-match winning streak is a testament to his exceptional form. Drawing inspiration from such achievements, I aimed to bring my best against Djokovic, and it’s a gratifying experience to contribute to Italy’s success in tennis.”