Indian Wells: World No. 123 Luca Nardi Knocks Out Djokovic whiles Daniil Medvedev Advances

Novak Djokovic’s shocking defeat at the hands of ‘lucky loser’ Luca Nardi sent shockwaves through the tennis world. Nardi, ranked No. 123, delivered an impressive performance, ultimately securing a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory over the top-seeded Djokovic in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Monday night. The 20-year-old Italian’s disbelief was palpable as he closed out the match with an ace, dropping his racket and bringing his hands to his face in astonishment before meeting Djokovic at the net.

Nardi’s hard-hitting shots and remarkable composure proved instrumental in frustrating Djokovic throughout the match. His surprising winner after an “in” call caught even himself off guard, leading to Djokovic lodging a complaint with the official about a potential hindrance.

As a “lucky loser,” Nardi nearly missed his chance to make this impact, gaining entry into the main draw as a replacement for an injured player who withdrew before the first round. Stepping in for No. 30 Tomas Martin Etcheverry, Nardi received a bye through the opening round and seized the opportunity, making history as the lowest-ranked player to defeat Djokovic in a Grand Slam or ATP Masters 1000 level event, surpassing No. 122 Kevin Anderson’s feat in 2008 in Miami.

The match notably featured moments where Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion and idol to Nardi, displayed a mixture of surprise and shock, leaving fans and commentators in awe. This unexpected turn of events marked a remarkable chapter in Nardi’s rising career and left an indelible mark on the world of tennis.

Meanwhile, No. 4 Daniil Medvedev displayed resilience in his match against No. 29 Sebastian Korda, securing a hard-fought 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 victory and earning a spot to face No. 13 Grigor Dimitrov. Additionally, in other matches, No. 9 seed Maria Sakkari triumphed over French 20th seed Caroline Garcia 6-3, 6-4, and 23rd-seeded Emma Navarro of the United States emerged victorious against 16th-seeded Elina Svitolina of Ukraine with a score of 6-1, 4-6, 6-3.