Novak Djokovic’s struggles continued at Indian Wells, as he suffered a surprising defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp in another concerning turn of events. The world No.1 has now lost back-to-back matches following his hamstring injury at the Australian Open, despite insisting that the issue is not affecting his game.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion appeared out of sorts during his Saturday night match against van de Zandschulp. At one point, he even wore his hat sideways to shield his eyes from the sun. Although Djokovic managed to recover and take the second set, he ultimately fell to a shocking 2-6, 6-3, 1-6 defeat, costing him valuable ranking points.
Before the match, Djokovic had declared himself injury-free and expressed confidence in making a deep run at Indian Wells. He also cited the return of coach Andy Murray as a positive factor. However, his performance told a different story, as he racked up an alarming 37 unforced errors.
For van de Zandschulp, the victory marked his eighth career win over a top-10 opponent and his first back-to-back ATP victories this year. While Djokovic remains tied with Roger Federer for the most Indian Wells titles (five), he has not won the tournament since 2016.
Tennis World Reacts to Djokovic’s Stunning Loss
Djokovic had reached the semifinals of the Australian Open in January before being sidelined by a torn hamstring. He made his return at the Qatar Open but suffered a first-match defeat to Matteo Berrettini. His form slump deepened with Saturday’s loss to van de Zandschulp, who entered the Indian Wells main draw as a lucky loser and advanced to face Djokovic after Nick Kyrgios withdrew due to injury.
In a remarkable feat, van de Zandschulp has now defeated Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, and Carlos Alcaraz within the past six months. He overcame Alcaraz at the US Open last September and beat Nadal in what turned out to be the Spaniard’s final Davis Cup match.
Djokovic’s early exit at Indian Wells presents a significant opportunity for Australian star Alex de Minaur, who is aiming 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 can improve his ranking with a stronger performance in 2025. With Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Casper Ruud all eliminated early, de Minaur’s path to a deep run has been cleared. The only higher-ranked players still in contention are Alcaraz, Taylor Fritz, and Daniil Medvedev.
Following Djokovic’s defeat, reactions from the tennis community were scathing, with some labeling his performance “embarrassing” and “horrible.” He will now shift his focus to the Miami Open, the second leg of the ‘Sunshine Double.’
Alexander Zverev Misses Opportunity to Challenge for No.1
Zverev’s shocking loss also had major implications, as it ended his hopes of overtaking Jannik Sinner for the world No.1 ranking during the Italian’s three-month suspension. The German is now mathematically out of contention for the top spot, ensuring Sinner will retain No.1 status when he returns in May.
Tallon Griekspoor clinched a hard-fought victory over Zverev, triumphing 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) in an intense three-hour, seven-minute battle. Overcome with emotion, Griekspoor collapsed on the court after converting his sixth match point. “I’m incredibly proud. It was such a mental battle to beat him,” he said. “I had lost to him six times in a row after beating him once, so it was a huge mental challenge. I’m thrilled to finally overcome that hurdle.”
Carlos Alcaraz Eyes Historic Third-Straight Indian Wells Title
With Djokovic and Zverev out of the tournament, Alcaraz is now the clear favorite to claim the Indian Wells title. The two-time defending champion breezed into the third round with a commanding 6-4, 6-2 victory over Quentin Halys.
The World No.3 is aiming to join Djokovic and Federer as the only players to win three consecutive titles at the ATP 1000 event in the Californian desert. “I was nervous at the start,” Alcaraz admitted. “The first match is always tough, so I tried to focus on my game and stay as relaxed as possible. There’s always room for improvement, but I’m excited for the next round.”
