Despite holding a joint record title, tennis champion Novak Djokovic has experienced some unexpected defeats at Indian Wells, California. The Serbian player, who has won the championship five times, is eyeing a comeback after a seven-year gap. However, Indian Wells, also known as the Tennis Garden, has been the stage for some of Djokovic’s most unexpected losses over the years.
Rewinding to 2018, Djokovic was on a mission to regain his Indian Wells crown. However, a recent joint surgery had limited his preparation to only a week. Despite this, he started strong, leading 5-3 in the first set against 109th ranked Taro Daniel. The tide changed, however, as Daniel matched Djokovic’s pace, won the first set in a tie-break, and ultimately triumphed with a 6-1 victory in the third set. This defeat marked one of the most shocking moments of Djokovic’s career.
In 2010, despite being the second seed and a clear favorite, Djokovic met another surprising defeat at the hands of Ivan Ljubicic. The Croatian player, who was 18 ranks below Djokovic, emerged victorious after winning the first set in a tie-break and sealing the game with a 6-3 win in the second set. This victory was a major highlight in Ljubicic’s career, who later coached Roger Federer.
Nick Kyrgios, one of the few players with a winning record against Djokovic, managed to knock him out in the Round of 16 in 2017. Kyrgios’ service game was the game-changer, with 14 aces and 72% service points won, as compared to Djokovic’s four aces and 65% service points.
Two years later, in 2019, Djokovic faced another speed bump in the form of 20th seed Philipp Kohlschreiber. Despite Djokovic’s status as the number one seed and Kohlschreiber’s previous record of just one win in nine meetings, the German player won the match in straight sets, marking a significant setback in Djokovic’s Indian Wells campaign.
Djokovic returned to the tournament in 2024 after a three-year break only to taste defeat again, this time against Italian player Luca Nardi. Despite being a “lucky loser” replacement for another player, Nardi managed to secure his most significant win to date by defeating Djokovic. This marked the first time a lucky loser had defeated Djokovic at an ATP Masters 1000 event.
As we look forward to the 2025 Indian Wells tournament, fans and pundits alike will be keenly watching Djokovic’s performance. Will he be able to reclaim his crown, or will Indian Wells continue to be a challenging terrain for this tennis champion? Only time will tell.