Djokovic defeated by lucky loser at Indian Wells Masters again

Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp advanced to the third round of the Indian Wells Masters by winning against Serb Novak Djokovic, the No 6 seed, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Saturday.

This is the second consecutive year Djokovic lost to a lucky loser at Indian Wells. He failed against Italian Luca Nardi in 2024.

Playing his opener this year, the Serb began shakily as Van de Zandschulp broke him twice to take the opening set. The 24-time Grand Slam champion then fought back to take the second set by converting two break points in the second and sixth games. However, the Dutchman proved too strong for him in the decider as he lost his serve twice again to finish on the wrong side of the scoreline.

In total, the veteran sprayed 37 unforced errors and could hit only 15 winners, averaging a mere 29 percent on his second-serve points.

Van de Zandschulp, on the other hand, didn’t impress in the qualifiers but entered the main draw late after Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta withdrew. He met Nick Kyrgios in the first round and received an easy pass as the Aussie retired in the second set (7-6 (7), 3-0) with an injury.

I kept my cool for the whole match.”

Botic van de Zandschulp

The win on Saturday meant the world No 85 has now beaten Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz (US Open) and Rafael Nadal (Davis Cup) in the past seven months.

“Second set was very tough,” he said after beating the Serb. “He [Djokovic] gained a pretty big lead. But I think I did well making it to 5-3, at least get the momentum a little bit back.”

“I think I kept my cool for the whole match,” he added. “I know beforehand if I go into the match and lose my cool, it’s going to be a really tough day. So yeah, that’s always one thing I’m trying to do well, especially against the big guys.”

Van De Zandschulp, ranked No 85, will face Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo, the No 25 seed, next.

In the previous round of the Indian Wells Tennis Masters, the Dutchman benefited from the abandonment of Australian Nick Kyrgios (7-6 (7), 3-0).

Indian Wells Masters 1000, other second-round results (Indian Wells Tennis Garden, hard, USD 13.042.410, most recent results first):

• Gael Monfils vs. Sebastian Korda
• David Goffin vs. Alex De Minaur
• Mariano Navone vs. Ben Shelton
• Grigor Dimitrov vs. Nuno Borges
• Karen Khachanov vs. Jakub Mensik
• Rinky Hijikata vs. Brandon Nakashima
• Hubert Hurkacz (21) beat Hugo Gaston (Q): 7-5, 6-3
• Carlos Alcaraz (2) beat Quentin Halys: 6-4, 6-2
• Francisco Cerundolo beat Mackenzie McDonald (WC): 4-6, 7-6 (3), 6-1
• Denis Shapovalov (27) beat Adam Walton (Q): 6-3, 6-2
• Matteo Arnaldi beat Andrey Rublev (7): 6-4, 7-5
• Taylor Fritz (3) beat Matteo Gigante (Q): 6-3, 7-5
• Alejandro Tabilo (30) beat Dusan Lajovic: 6-3, 7-5
• Jenson Brooksby beat Felix Auger-Aliassime (17): 6-4, 6-2
• Jack Draper (13) beat Joao Fonseca (WC): 6-4, 6-0
• Frances Tiafoe (16) beat Damir Dzumhur (Q): 7-6 (4), 7-6 (7)
• Yosuke Watanuki (Q) beat Tomas Machac (19): 4-6, 4-2 ret.
• Daniil Medvedev (5) beat Yunchaokete Bu: 6-2, 6-2
• Arthur Fils (20) beat Gabriel Diallo (LL): 6-2, 6-2
• Stefanos Tsitsipas (8) beat Thiago Seyboth Wild: 6-2, 6-4
• Holger Rune (12) beat Corentin Moutet: 6-2, 6-4
• Alex Michelsen (31) beat Colton Smith (Q): 6-3, 6-4
• Lorenzo Musetti (15) beat Roman Safiullin: 7-5, 5-7, 6-2
• Matteo Berrettini (28) beat Christopher O’Connell: 6-2, 7-6 (2)
• Marcos Giron beat Casper Ruud (4): 7-6 (4), 3-6, 6-2
• Alexei Popyrin (26) beat Zizou Bergs: 7-6 (4), 7-5
• Cameron Norrie beat Jiri Lehecka (23): 3-6, 6-4, 7-5
• Tommy Paul (10) beat Tristan Boyer (WC): 6-3, 6-1
• Ugo Humbert (18) beat Kei Nishikori: 6-4, 6-3
• Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (29) beat Fabian Marozsan: 6-4 ret.
• Tallon Griekspoor beat Alexander Zverev (1): 4-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (4)

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