Novak Djokovic displayed his generous side before his third-round match at the Indian Wells Masters on March 11. In a heartwarming gesture, he took time to hit a few shots with the kids of four-time Major winner Jim Courier at the conclusion of his practice session.
Novak Djokovic, making his return to the Californian desert for the first time since 2019, began his ATP Masters 1000 campaign in impressive style on Sunday. After a first-round bye, the Serb faced a spirited challenge from Australia’s Aleksandar Vukic. Despite a late push from his opponent, Djokovic managed to secure a 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 victory, advancing to the third round at Indian Wells..
Novak Djokovic displayed high spirits during his recent practice session at Indian Wells on Tuesday morning. He extended an invitation to Jim Courier’s sons to trade hits with him on the court. The 24-time Major winner expressed his admiration for both young players’ skills, sharing the experience on his Instagram stories..
“Fun times on the court today with your kids, Jim.
They got their dad’s genes 🧬💪
The Serb’s Instagram stories.
Novak Djokovic and Jim Courier were joined on the court by Courier’s wife, Susanna Lingman. In the practice session, the 36-year-old Djokovic engaged in some singles practice points with each of Courier’s sons. The playful twist involved the loser having to run two rounds of the court and perform five push-ups..
Despite initially having the upper hand against Courier Jr.’s, Novak Djokovic eventually lost to them in the practice session. As a result, the 24-time Major winner graciously adhered to the playful bet, performing push-ups and running around the court as part of the friendly competition..
During the practice hit, Jim Courier Sr. added a humorous touch, quipping, “He (Courier’s elder son) better have your (Djokovic) backhand, not mine!” The lighthearted banter added an entertaining element to the friendly session on the court..
Novak Djokovic has an easy draw until the semifinals of Indian Wells 2024.
Five-time Indian Wells champ serves against Aleksandar Vukic
Novak Djokovic is set to face lucky loser Luca Nardi in the third round of the 2024 Indian Wells Masters. Given that the two players haven’t crossed paths on the ATP Tour, their head-to-head record currently stands at 0-0. It will be an interesting encounter between the seasoned champion and the emerging talent..
With a head-to-head record of 0-0 against Luca Nardi, Novak Djokovic eyes a potential matchup against either Tommy Paul or Ugo Humbert in the fourth round, should he advance past the 20-year-old Italian. The path to the quarterfinals suggests a challenging road, possibly facing the likes of ninth-seeded Casper Ruud, 2021 titlist Cameron Norrie, or former World No. 6 Gael Monfils. Djokovic aims for his first semifinal appearance in Palm Springs since 2016..
Novak Djokovic faces a challenging path in the later stages of the 2024 Indian Wells Masters. Beyond the quarterfinals, he could potentially meet last year’s finalist Daniil Medvedev and seventh-seeded Holger Rune in the semifinals. If he reaches the final, Djokovic might face a blockbuster match against either Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner or defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. The competition promises to be intense as Djokovic aims for his sixth Indian Wells title.