WATCH: Novak Djokovic goes “gangster” with sideways cap to shield from glaring sun at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic’s struggles continued at Indian Wells, as he suffered a surprising loss to Botic van de Zandschulp in another concerning setback. This marks his second consecutive defeat since injuring his hamstring at the Australian Open, though he insists the injury is not affecting him.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared out of sorts during Saturday night’s match, even wearing his hat sideways at one point to shield his eyes from the sun. Although he managed to recover and claim the second set, Djokovic ultimately fell 2-6, 6-3, 1-6, resulting in a loss of rankings points.

Prior to the match, Djokovic stated he was injury-free and aiming for a deep run at Indian Wells. He also expressed confidence that his reunited partnership with coach Andy Murray would be beneficial. However, his performance was marred by 37 unforced errors.

For van de Zandschulp, this victory marked his eighth career win over a top-10 opponent and his first back-to-back ATP wins this year. While Djokovic shares the record for most Indian Wells titles (five) with Roger Federer, he hasn’t claimed the trophy since 2016.

Tennis World Reacts to Djokovic’s Stunning Defeat

Djokovic had reached the Australian Open semifinals in January before withdrawing due to a hamstring tear. He returned at the Qatar Open but suffered a first-round loss to Matteo Berrettini, and his struggles persisted against van de Zandschulp—who entered the main draw as a lucky loser and advanced after Nick Kyrgios withdrew.

Remarkably, van de Zandschulp has now defeated Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Carlos Alcaraz in the last six months. He upset Alcaraz at the US Open last September and later beat Nadal in what turned out to be the Spaniard’s final Davis Cup match.

Djokovic’s early exit presents an opportunity for Australian star Alex de Minaur, who aims to climb back up the rankings after dropping from World No.6 to No.10. Having reached the fourth round at Indian Wells in 2024, de Minaur stands to gain points if he advances further this year.

With Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Casper Ruud all eliminated, de Minaur’s path to a deep run has opened up. Top-seeded Zverev was stunned by Tallon Griekspoor, while fourth-seeded Ruud lost to Marcos Giron. The highest-ranked players still in contention are Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic’s performance drew sharp criticism, with some describing it as “embarrassing” and “horrible.” He will now shift his focus to the Miami Open, the second leg of the ‘Sunshine Double.’

Zverev Misses Opportunity to Close Gap on Jannik Sinner

Zverev’s loss also dashed his hopes of challenging Jannik Sinner for the World No.1 ranking during the Italian’s three-month suspension. As a result, Sinner will retain the top spot when he returns in May.

Griekspoor overcame Zverev in a grueling three-hour, seven-minute battle, ultimately securing victory 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) on his sixth match point. Overcome with emotion, he collapsed on the court after sealing the win. “I’m incredibly proud. It was such a mental battle,” Griekspoor said. “I had beaten him once but lost the next six times, so this was a big breakthrough.”

Alcaraz Aims for Third Consecutive Indian Wells Title

With Djokovic and Zverev out of the picture, Carlos Alcaraz now stands as the clear favorite to win Indian Wells. The two-time defending champion advanced to the third round on Saturday with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory over Quentin Halys.

Alcaraz is seeking to join Djokovic and Federer as the only players to win three straight Indian Wells titles. “I was nervous at the beginning,” he admitted. “The first match is never easy, so I focused on my game and tried to stay relaxed. There’s always room for improvement, but I’m ready for the next round and excited.”