Novak Djokovic’s campaign at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells came to an unexpected end. On Monday evening, the tournament’s top seed was ousted in the third round by 20-year-old Italian Luca Nardi.
Nardi achieved a remarkable upset, defeating Djokovic, the reigning world No. 1, with a scoreline of 6–4, 3–6, 6–3. This victory marks the first time Djokovic has been defeated by such a low-ranked player in a Masters 1000 or Grand Slam event throughout his illustrious career. Nardi is currently ranked world No. 123 in the PIF ATP rankings.
For Nardi, a self-professed admirer of Djokovic, this triumph stands as the most significant of his career. It marks only his second win against a top-50 opponent, with his first coming in the previous round of the tournament against Zhang Zhizhen.
Djokovic, returning to Indian Wells for the first time since 2019, overcame Aleksandar Vučić in three sets in his opening match before succumbing to Nardi’s challenge.
Entering the tournament as a substitute for the injured Tomas Etcheverry, Nardi now progresses to the round of 16, where he will face American Tommy Paul.
Reflecting on his historic victory over the world’s top-ranked player, Nardi expressed his joy, stating, “I think that before this night no one knew me. I hope that the crowd enjoyed the game. I’m super happy with this one,” as reported by the ATP.
