In a stunning turn of events at Indian Wells seventh seed Novak Djokovic, suffered a third consecutive defeat, bowing out in the second round to Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp. The world number 85 delivered a remarkable upset, defeating Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in a match that showcased a surprisingly subdued performance from the tennis legend.
Djokovic, 37, has struggled to regain his top form since his memorable victory over Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open quarter-finals earlier this year. Following that triumph, he fell to Alexander Zverev in the Melbourne semi-finals, Matteo Berrettini in Doha, and now Van de Zandschulp.
The loss marks a continuation of a challenging stretch for the Serbian star, who claimed only one title in 2024—the long-sought Olympic gold—but failed to secure a Grand Slam for the first time since 2017.
The match against Van de Zandschulp exposed uncharacteristic vulnerabilities in Djokovic’s game. He committed 37 unforced errors while managing just 16 winners, a stark contrast to the precision and dominance that have defined his career.