Novak Djokovic Faces Early Exit at Indian Wells: ‘I’ve Been Struggling’

Novak Djokovic experienced another shocking exit at the Indian Wells, marking his second consecutive early departure as the former world No. 1 succumbed to lucky loser Botic Van De Zandschulp.

Djokovic entered the California tournament hoping to secure his sixth ATP Masters title but instead faced a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat at the hands of his Dutch opponent.

The 24-time Grand Slam winner recorded a staggering 37 unforced errors throughout the match, with 14 occurring in the opening set.

While Djokovic managed to find his rhythm during the second set, he fell short in the final set as Van De Zandschulp surged ahead.

“I started off really well, but of course, Novak came back,” the world No. 85 remarked after the match.

“In the end, I was pleased to regain my level.”

The Serbian star has faced an array of challenges lately, including injuries and formidable opponents, hindering his performance on the court.

Djokovic was compelled to withdraw from the semi-finals of the Australian Open due to a hamstring issue and subsequently struggled in his opening match in Doha last month.

He described the result as “a bad day at the office,” admitting that the match underscored his ongoing difficulties in maintaining his competitive edge.

“Things have changed for me over the past couple of years,” he reflected.

“I’ve been battling to perform at my usual level.

“Occasionally, I have a few decent tournaments, but more often than not, it’s really tough. It’s a struggle for me.

“I suppose nothing can truly prepare you for moments like this. You have to navigate through it as best as you can.”

When questioned about whether persistent injury issues had affected his performance against Van de Zandschulp, Djokovic opted not to elaborate on his current condition.

“There’s always something going on,” he replied.

“But I don’t wish to discuss it. No excuses for a poor showing… just a disappointing day at work for me.”

A victory against Djokovic further enhances Van de Zandschulp’s already impressive achievements, which include stunning wins over Spanish legends Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal.

The Dutch player eliminated Nadal in what turned out to be his final Davis Cup match and also knocked out Alcaraz in the second round at the 2024 US Open.

Meanwhile, seventh seed Andrey Rublev fell in straight sets against Matteo Arnaldi, while Canada’s Felix Auger-Aliassime was also ousted in straight sets by American Jenson Brooksby.