By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Monday March 11, 2024
Luca Nardi, a 123rd-ranked wild card, stunned Novak Djokovic for an epic victory on Monday night at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Photo Source: Getty
Indian Wells – Luca Nardi claimed one of the most improbable wins in Indian Wells history on Monday night, defeating five-time champion Novak Djokovic, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, to become the lowest-ranked player to ever defeat the 24-time major champion at a Masters 1000 or a Grand Slam.
“What can I say?” 123rd-ranked Nardi told the crowd after completing the victory in two hours and 17 minutes. “Yesterday night I was dreaming about it, I was speaking with the coaches and dreaming about – now it’s real!”
It is real, indeed.
Last week Nardi had been knocked out of the qualifying draw by David Goffin, but when Tomas Martin Etcheverry pulled out the 20-year-old took his place and defeated China’s Zhang Zhizhen to reach the third round.
On Monday he started the match in breezy conditions as the more in-rhythm player, and made a break for 4-2 stand up as he claimed the set.
Djokovic had seemingly restored order when he won four of five games to close out the second set, but Nardi kept bringing the play to the Serbian legend and eventually broke through for 4-2.
He held serve in his final two service games to lock up the improbable win.
“Amazing feeling,” Nardi said. “I couldn't even imagine to play a match against him, and now I also beat him. So it's such a dream come true for me.”
For Djokovic the loss was a source of bitter disappointment. He was making his first trip to the California desert since 2019, and was hoping to get his season back on track after losing to Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open, in the semifinals.
“No titles this year. That's not something I'm used to,” he said. “I was starting the season most of my career with a Grand Slam win or, you know, Dubai win, or any or tournament.
Djokovic drops to 51-10 at Indian Wells in 15 career appearances. He had not lost to a player ranked outside the Top 100 at a Masters or a Grand Slam since falling to Taro Daniel in 2018 at Indian Wells.
“It's fine,” he told reporters in a press conference about 30 minutes after the match. “It's 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.
“I guess every trophy that eventually comes my way is going to be great (smiling), 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.”
Nardi will face Tommy Paul in the round of 16.