Novak’s Indian Wells campaign ended unexpectedly early, as he suffered a second-round defeat in his first match at the tournament.
Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, ranked 85th in the world, pulled off a major upset, defeating the five-time champion 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.
Novak struggled to find his rhythm, with inconsistency plaguing his game, particularly in the first and third sets. A high number of unforced errors prevented him from settling in, ultimately proving costly in his bid to reach the next round.
The 24-time Grand Slam winner was well below his best in the opening set, and Van de Zandschulp took full advantage. In just 31 minutes, Novak racked up 14 unforced errors, while the Dutchman played clean, committing only five. Dictating the rallies with confidence, Van de Zandschulp broke in the third and fifth games and closed out the set 6-2, leaving Novak with just 13 points won.
The sixth seed responded in the second set, raising his level and taking charge. Playing with more intent, he broke twice to surge ahead 5-1. Although Van de Zandschulp clawed back one break, Novak remained composed and closed out the set 6-3 to force a decider.
However, the momentum swung back to the Dutchman in the final set, as Novak’s errors resurfaced. Van de Zandschulp capitalized, breaking twice and maintaining his composure to seal the match in style.
Entering the main draw as a “lucky loser,” Van de Zandschulp made the most of his opportunity, scoring one of the biggest wins of his career after two hours and two minutes.
Novak will look to bounce back at the Miami Open, the second Masters 1000 event of the 2025 season, scheduled from March 19 to March 30.
Photo: Profimedia
