INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Novak Djokovic came to California with big plans and high hopes. He would play the so-called Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami for the first time in seven years, hopefully to have some success after a solid few weeks of practice.
The first part can still happen, but giantkiller-in-waiting Botic van de Zandschulp put the brakes on the second, taking advantage of an out-of-form version of Djokovic to beat him 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in the main stadium of a venue that has been anything but tennis paradise for Djokovic for some time. Djokovic has won Indian Wells five times, but has not gone past the quarterfinals since 2016.
Djokovic was off from the beginning, struggling to find his wind despite the dry and temperate afternoon in the California desert. He appeared to find his feet in the second set but also seemed to be struggling with an upset stomach. As for his tennis, there were his usual moments of the sublime, but also signs of the rustiness that comes with having played just one match — a loss in Doha, Qatar to Matteo Berrettini — during the past six weeks.
The touch was just slightly less precise. The power not quite devastating enough to get the ball through the high-bouncing court in the main stadium. The serve not quite landing in its spots. His overheads, never a strong point, were especially meek, but he did get away with most of them.
When he failed to put one away serving at 1-2 in the decisive set, van de Zandschulp had the opening and got the break with nimble topspin lob. Two games later, Djokovic left a drop shot within easy reach of the Dutchman, who slipped the ball past him on a sharp angle for a second break of serve. That, as it has so rarely looked for Djokovic on a hard court against a lower-ranked opponent in his career, was that.
It was Djokovic’s second upset in the California desert in two years, after his three-set defeat to Luca Nardi in 2024. Van de Zandschulp, who has now beaten Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal in the last seven months, stayed on the most even of keels as his opponent floundered and raged, at one point jawing at his box and coach, Andy Murray, in the way that he has so often done to get himself over the line. At another, he wore his cap askance to block out some irritating sun. Van de Zandschulp ended having hit 26 winners and 25 unforced errors; Djokovic was 16-37.
The roar Djokovic let out upon winning the second set looked life-giving, but instead the sticky, robotic footwork that has hampered some of his worse losses in recent times returned in the final set. A rally forehand that went just a little wide was the end, and Djokovic will now be looking for better weather in Florida in a couple of weeks time — if he decides to play there.
GO DEEPER
Luca Nardi upsets Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells
(Photo: Joe Scarnici / Getty Images)
