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Djokovic’s Surprising Exit at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic aimed to solidify his legacy with a record sixth men’s title at the Indian Wells tournament. However, his aspirations were cut short as he encountered an unexpected defeat in his first match following a first-round bye.

In a performance that fell significantly below his usual exceptional standards, Djokovic recorded an alarming 37 unforced errors while managing to hit only 16 winners—numbers that starkly highlight his struggles on the court.

Post-match, Djokovic acknowledged the setback, stating, “Congratulations to my opponent. It was just a bad day in the office, I guess.” This latest defeat marks the fourth consecutive year that he has not progressed beyond the third round at Indian Wells, raising concerns about his recent form.

Last year’s early exit came at the hands of Italian player Luca Naldi, and this year, Djokovic faced a similar fate against lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp. The match illuminated significant flaws in Djokovic’s game, particularly his serve return—a key factor of his historic success. Against Van de Zandschulp, Djokovic struggled to handle the second serve, conceding five break points out of eight chances against him.

Though Djokovic initially seemed to recover from a rocky start by leveling the match, a series of further mistakes that he termed “awful” ultimately allowed Van de Zandschulp to seize control and secure the match.

The presence of Britain’s Andy Murray in his coaching setup could not rectify the issues faced during the match. Both players are set to compete together in the upcoming Miami Open, and they will be hoping that this performance does not reflect deeper, more systemic issues.

As Djokovic approaches his 38th birthday in May, questions about the impact of age on his performance continue to surface. However, his recent displays in Melbourne suggested that, when fit and driven, he remains capable of defeating most competitors on the tour.

Source
www.bbc.com