Italian tennis sensation Luca Nardi is gearing up for another powerful outing at Indian Wells, carrying the accolade of being the player who upset five-time champion Novak Djokovic in last year’s tournament. At just 20 years old, Nardi showcased his immense talent by qualifying for the main draw and then stunning the tennis world with a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 triumph over Djokovic in a gruelling match that lasted over two hours.
The third round encounter witnessed Nardi not only scoring his fourth ATP victory but also defeating his idol, a feat that has catapulted him into the limelight. Despite admitting that many tennis fans might still be unfamiliar with his name, Nardi’s victory over Djokovic has made him an icon in his own right.
During their nail-biting match, Djokovic was visibly unwell, requiring a stomach pill. Despite his discomfort, the seasoned player managed to claim the second set before losing control in the decider, allowing Nardi to seize victory.
Nardi, who has had a picture of Djokovic on his bedroom door since he was eight, skillfully generated 11 break opportunities during the match. With an aggressive playstyle, he seized three of these chances, which ultimately led him to outshine his idol.
In a game of precision and power, Nardi hit 36 winners and 41 unforced errors, dwarfing Djokovic’s 18 direct points and 31 mistakes. Notably, Nardi managed to break Djokovic’s serve when the latter had a 40-15 lead in the fifth game of the opening set, a pivotal moment in the match.
The young prodigy displayed remarkable resilience and control during the match. He managed to hold his serve in the sixth and eighth games and served for the opener at 5-4. Nardi then opened with a volley winner and landed an authoritative serve to clinch the first set in 44 minutes.
Despite Djokovic bouncing back in the second set, forcing almost 20 unforced errors from Nardi, the Italian remained undeterred. He demonstrated his mettle by pulling back a break on the fifth break point in the third game and then breaking Djokovic’s serve again in the sixth game.
With the momentum on his side, Nardi took a 3-2 lead with a winning smash and then capitalized on Djokovic’s forehand error to gain three break points. The rising star clinched another break and served a winner to secure a 5-2 lead. Djokovic, seeking to turn the tide, closed the eighth game at love, but it was too little too late.
Nardi, serving for his career-best victory at 5-3, displayed an impressive level of cool-headedness. He fired two winners at 15-15 for two match points and then clinched the match with an ace, providing a thrilling climax to a memorable desert night.
Reflecting on his victory, Nardi said: “I had a surge of good emotions as soon as I arrived at Tennis Paradise. I’m not usually one for fanfare, but I’m the guy that beat Djokovic! It was a surreal experience to approach the net knowing I had defeated him. I never imagined I would be serving an ace instead of a double fault at match point. While my performance dipped slightly after that phenomenal win, I have been working hard to improve my game and ranking. I’ve made some tweaks to my racquet and improved my serve. I’m looking forward to replicating last year’s success.”
With such a monumental victory under his belt, Nardi is certainly a player to watch as he embarks on his next Indian Wells campaign.
