© Alberto E. Rodriguez / Stringer – Getty Photographs Sport
World no. 1 and five-time Indian Wells champion Novak Djokovic can’t look forward to the match to begin at Tennis Paradise! Novak will compete within the desert for the primary time since 2019, in search of his sixth Indian Wells crown and the primary of the season.
Djokovic took a break following the Australian Open semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner, skipping all of the motion in February and returning on the “Sunshine Double” in Indian Wells and Miami. The Serb is keen to play properly at Stadium 1 in Indian Wells, shaping his type whereas coaching with Grigor Dimitrov and Sebastian Korda.
Novak misplaced his first Indian Wells last to Rafael Nadal in 2007. He bounced again a 12 months later, ousting Mardy Fish and lifting the trophy.
Djokovic took down Nadal in an exhilarating last in 2011 for his second crown and dominated between 2014 and 2016, conquering three consecutive crowns earlier than slowing down.
Novak has performed solely six matches in Indian Wells since 2017, dropping earlier than the quarter-final for 3 years in a row and never returning after 2019. Djokovic’s most up-to-date Indian Wells match got here within the third spherical 5 years in the past, falling to Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 6-4 in an hour and 38 minutes.
Novak didn’t play properly within the desert for the third straight 12 months, permitting Philipp to turn into the oldest participant for the reason that begin of the ATP rating with a win over world no. 1! Kohlschreiber defeated Djokovic for the primary time in ten years, taming his strokes properly and outplaying the world’s finest participant in essentially the most prolonged exchanges.
The German saved 4 out of 5 break factors and maintained the strain on the Serb. Novak misplaced 40% of the factors in his video games and suffered three breaks to hit the exit door. They competed for 2 days, with the rain sending them off the courtroom within the early levels.
Novak Djokovic is keen to compete in Indian Wells this week.
They returned the following day, and Philipp landed a forehand winner to avoid wasting a break level in recreation six.
The veteran fired one other within the subsequent one, incomes a break at 15 and opening a 4-3 hole. Kohlschreiber saved a break level in recreation eight and closed it with two service winners, cementing the lead and transferring 5-3 in entrance. Novak diminished the deficit with a forehand winner in recreation 9 earlier than Philipp wrapped up the set with a service winner at 5-4.
Djokovic acquired damaged at love originally of the second set, with Kohlschreiber holding within the subsequent one after deuce for a set and a break benefit. Philipp moved 4-2 up with a maintain at 15 in recreation six and broke Novak once more within the subsequent one, forging a 5-2 benefit and serving for the win.
Djokovic pulled one break again and prolonged the battle after a maintain at love in recreation 9. The veteran served for the win for the second time at 5-4 and sealed the take care of a forehand winner, celebrating his career-best victory.
Half a decade after his most up-to-date Indian Wells match, Novak continues to be ranked on the prime, presenting his unbelievable longevity and setting to turn into the oldest no. 1 participant in April. Djokovic kicked off the present season on the United Cup, defeating two rivals earlier than falling to Alex de Minaur, additionally scuffling with a wrist harm.
The Serb left it behind forward of Melbourne however didn’t play his finest on the Australian Open within the opening two rounds, coping with a minor virus.
The defending champion beat the younger Croat Dino Prizmic and Alexei Popyrin in 4 units, staying on the courtroom for over seven hours.
Djokovic discovered the tempo behind the preliminary shot in opposition to Tomas Martin Etcheverry and Adrian Mannarino, beating them in straight units and reaching the final eight. Novak needed to dig deep in opposition to Taylor Fritz in a 7-6, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3 triumph, prevailing after three hours and 45 minutes.
Djokovic did not convert 15 break probabilities within the opening two units, surviving within the opener however dropping the second to maintain the rival in competition after practically two and a half hours underneath Melbourne’s solar! It went down, and Novak felt higher in units three and 4, delivering 4 breaks and rising excessive to set the semi-final conflict with Jannik Sinner.
The younger Italian carried out at his finest and toppled the Serb 6-1, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3 in three hours and 22 minutes, transferring into his first Main last at 22. Novak misplaced his first Melbourne match after passing the quarter-final stage, spraying over 50 unforced errors and dropping floor within the shortest exchanges as much as 4 strokes.
Sinner grabbed 5 breaks from 11 probabilities, leaving Djokovic miles behind within the opening two units and squandering a match level within the third. The younger gun made a contemporary begin within the fourth set, breaking Novak as soon as and transferring excessive.
Djokovic will begin his Indian Wells marketing campaign in opposition to Aleksandar Vukic or Shintaro Mochizuki.
“The final time I performed on this stunning courtroom was in 2019.
It feels prefer it was yesterday. It is wonderful to be again at Tennis Paradise, and I can’t look forward to the match to begin! Let’s go,” Novak Djokovic mentioned.
