In a stunning upset at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, world No. 123 Luca Nardi secured a remarkable victory over tennis icon Novak Djokovic. Nardi’s triumph marked a historic moment in his career and left the tennis world in awe.
“I don’t know [how I held my nerve],” Nardi expressed in disbelief after the tense finish. “I think it is a miracle because I am a 20-year-old guy, 100 in the world, and beating Novak. It’s crazy.”
Nardi’s unexpected victory came as he was granted a ‘lucky loser’ spot in the main draw after being defeated in the qualifying rounds. Making the most of this opportunity, Nardi showcased his talent by defeating Zhang Zhizhen in the second round before facing off against Djokovic.
The match, which lasted two hours and 20 minutes, saw Nardi delivering a stellar performance, ultimately securing a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 win over the former world No. 1. Djokovic, who was critical of his own performance, acknowledged Nardi’s deserving victory.
“He got in as a lucky loser to the main draw, so he really didn’t have anything to lose, so he played great. Deserved to win,” Djokovic remarked after the match. “I was more surprised with my level. My level was really, really bad.”
The defeat at Indian Wells marked a concerning trend for Djokovic, who had been seeking his sixth title at the tournament. Expressing his disappointment, Djokovic acknowledged the challenging phase he was facing in 2024.
“No titles this year. That’s not something I’m used to,” Djokovic admitted. “It is part of the sport. You just have to accept it. Some you win; some you lose. Hopefully, I’ll win some more and still keep going.”
For Nardi, the victory not only propelled him to the next round of the tournament but also brought him newfound recognition on the tennis stage.
“I think that before this night no one knew me. I hope that the crowd enjoyed the game. I’m super happy with this one,” Nardi expressed, reveling in the momentous occasion.
As Nardi prepares to face the US’ Tommy Paul in the upcoming round, his triumph over Djokovic serves as a reminder of the unpredictability and excitement that tennis brings, showcasing the potential for emerging talents to make their mark on the sport’s grand stage.
Novak Djokovic in 2024
LWWWWWWLWW At the moment ranked no.1, Djokovic played his last match on the 11th of March when he capitulated to world no.96 Luca Nardi 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the 3rd round in Indian Wells (draw).
This season Djokovic has achieved a composed 8-3 win-loss record. Novak Djokovic’s best performance of the current year was reaching the semifinal at the Australian Open.
Luca Nardi in 2024
LLWWWWLLLL Currently ranked no.96 (career-high), Luca played his last match on the 13th of March when he lost to world no.14 Tommy Paul 6-4 6-3 in the 4th round in Indian Wells (draw).
During this season the Italian has managed to achieve an overall 9-7 match record. Luca Nardi’s best result of the present season was getting to the final in the Chennai Challenger.
Novak Djokovic and Luca Nardi fought against each other just on 1 occasion. The head to head is 1-0 for Nardi. When they played, Luca Nardi won 6-4 3-6 6-3 in the 3rd round in Indian Wells (BNP Paribas Open) on the 11th of March 2024.
In the video below you can watch the highlights.
Novak Djokovic and Luca Nardi |
| Embed from Getty Images |
