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The younger Italian Luca Nardi produced a shocker in Indian Wells, ousting world no. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes. Luca entered the draw as a fortunate loser, incomes his first Masters 1000 win towards Zhizhen Zhang and producing a career-best efficiency towards a five-time champion within the third spherical.
The Australian Open champion and Italy’s best, Jannik Sinner, praised Luca and his efficiency towards Novak. Jannik would like to see extra from his younger compatriot within the upcoming years, particularly if he stays wholesome.
Nardi’s win over Djokovic was solely his fourth on the Tour, ousting his idol following a dependable efficiency in units one and three.
Novak competed in Indian Wells for the primary time in 5 years, beating Aleksandar Vukic in three units within the second spherical earlier than falling to Luca after one other shaky efficiency on the return.
Additionally, Djokovic took a abdomen capsule, struggling to supply his A-game and struggling an early loss regardless of a superb efficiency in set quantity two. The Serb took one level greater than the Italian, however it was not sufficient to maintain him protected after dropping floor within the pivotal moments.
Novak delivered two breaks from 4 probabilities and misplaced serve thrice from 11 alternatives supplied to Luca, struggling to impose his strokes and hold the stress on his inexperienced rival. Nardi stayed aggressive, firing 36 winners and 41 unforced errors and beating Djokovic’s 18-31 ratio.
The younger gun had the higher hand within the extra prolonged exchanges, protecting his focus and outplaying world no. 1 within the decider. Luca didn’t step again within the opening set, defending his second serve effectively and breaking Novak as soon as for an early benefit.
They served properly for 2-2 earlier than Nardi stepped in on the return in recreation 5. Novak performed a free forehand to face a break level, and Luca seized it with a forehand winner, constructing an early benefit and confidence. The teenager produced a nice maintain within the sixth recreation, transferring 4-2 up and delivering one other dependable service recreation for 5-3.
Djokovic lowered the deficit to 5-4 and wished for his first return probability in recreation ten.
Jannik Sinner praised Luca Nardi’s efficiency towards Novak Djokovic.
As a substitute, Nardi opened it with a volley winner and closed the set with a service winner, clinching the opener 6-4 in 44 minutes.
Novak raised his stage within the second set, delivering two breaks and forcing a decider after welcoming virtually 20 unforced errors from his younger opponent. Luca led 40-0 within the second recreation earlier than spraying errors, dropping serve and falling 2-0 behind.
The third recreation supplied the last word drama, with the Italian creating 5 break probabilities. He transformed the final after a questionable name after Novak’s serve, with each gamers stopping the motion. Djokovic was sad concerning the resolution, however he stayed targeted and made one other push on the return in recreation six.
Nardi confronted a break level after a double fault and handed a break to Djokovic after a forehand error, sending world no.
1 4-2 forward. Novak held at love in recreation seven, cementing the lead and creating two set factors on the return at 5-2. Nardi saved them with nice hitting, holding and sustaining confidence. Djokovic wrapped up the set with a backhand winner on serve in recreation 9, forcing a decider and changing into the favourite.
Luca made a recent begin and closed the primary recreation of the ultimate set with a forehand drive-volley winner. The Italian performed properly on the return within the second recreation and created three break probabilities. The Serb confirmed his psychological power, denying them and holding after 12 minutes to stay on the optimistic aspect.
Nardi moved 3-2 in entrance with a smash winner and stepped in on the return within the subsequent one. The Italian created three break probabilities and seized the second with a backhand assault, forging a 4-2 lead and transferring nearer to a stunner.
Not stopping there, Nardi clinched the seventh recreation with a service winner, opening a 5-2 hole and forcing Djokovic to serve to remain within the match. Novak did the whole lot proper within the eighth recreation, holding at love and lowering the deficit forward of Luca’s pivotal service recreation.
The 20-year-old served for a career-best victory at 5-3 and landed two winners at 15-15, creating two match factors. Luca transformed the primary with an ace, sealing the deal in model and celebrating an unbelievable victory at such a younger age.
“I do know Luca fairly properly. We should always have practiced in the course of the low season, however he twisted his ankle. He’s an unbelievable and gifted participant with an awesome crew.
He defeated world no. 1 Djokovic, and I am comfortable for him. You by no means know what to anticipate in these matches, and he beat the world’s greatest participant on the primary try. Hopefully, Luca can hold this tempo sooner or later and keep wholesome,” Jannik Sinner mentioned.
