‘Things are different’ says Novak Djokovic after another early exit at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS – Five-time champion Novak Djokovic crashed out in his Indian Wells ATP Masters opener on March 8, just the latest proof that “things are different” now for the 24-time Grand Slam champion.

Djokovic had 37 unforced errors and was helpless as Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp won the last five games to triumph 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

The Serbian star had hoped that the addition of old rival Andy Murray as his coach would help him go deep into a tournament he last won in 2016.

Instead, it was an earlier exit than his third-round loss to lucky loser Luca Nardi in 2024.

“You know, things are different obviously for me the last couple of years,” the 37-year-old said.

“I’ve been struggling to play at the desired level. Every now and then, I have a couple of good tournaments, but, you know, mostly it’s really a challenge. It’s a struggle for me.

“So it is what it is. I guess nothing can prepare you for that moment, in a sense. You have to experience it and try to deal with it in the best possible way.”

Forced out of the Australian Open semi-finals with a hamstring injury, Djokovic dropped his first match at his comeback event in Qatar in February.

Asked if any physical problem hindered him on March 8, Djokovic deflected the question.

“I mean, it’s always something happening, but I don’t want to talk about it,” he said.

“No excuses for a poor performance... just a bad day at the office, I guess, for me.”

It was another big win for van de Zandschulp, who stunned Carlos Alcaraz at the 2024 US Open before beating Rafael Nadal in the Davis Cup in the Spanish great’s last match. He will next face Francisco Cerundolo.

After 14 unforced errors in the first set, Djokovic cleaned things up the second, grabbing a quick break on the way to a 3-0 lead.

Djokovic pumped his fist after belting a forehand winner to the corner for his first break chance of the match and after consolidating the break nodded his head in satisfaction.

However, van de Zandschulp was not about to go quietly and the rallies remained tense affairs.

Trailing 0-40 in the sixth game of the second set, Djokovic clawed out another break in a game that went to deuce five times, but he was broken as he served for the set, gifting van de Zandschulp a third break opportunity with a forehand miss.

Clearly frustrated at times, Djokovic muscled a forehand winner to the baseline to secure the second set and level the match.

It was only a brief respite. Van de Zandschulp kept the pressure on from the baseline and at the net and Djokovic’s errors began to pile up again.

Van de Zandschulp took control in the third with a break for 3-1, winning the last five games.

“The first three games, four games of the third set were quite close,” Djokovic said. “Had my chances. Was just some awful mistakes.

“When I reflect on this match, obviously I’ll see a little bit more what I could have done more.

“He played, I think, some really good points to break my serve. But just putting myself in that position, I shouldn’t allow myself to do that.”

Djokovic said he did not know if he would head immediately to Miami to begin preparations for the Miami Open, which starts on March 19.

“I still haven’t talked with Andy and the team, so going to do that and make a plan,” he said.

Djokovic's loss led a day of upsets that included seventh seed Andrey Rublev losing 6-4, 7-5 to Italy's Matteo Arnaldi and 17th seed Felix Auger Aliassime falling to American Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-2.

World No. 1 Jannik Sinner is not playing at the tournament as he serves a doping suspension.

Earlier, Carlos Alcaraz began his bid for an Indian Wells three-peat with a 6-4, 6-2 win over Quentin Halys.

Alcaraz is looking to join tennis greats Djokovic and Roger Federer as the only players to have triumphed three successive times in “Tennis Paradise”.

“I couldn’t wait to start the tournament, to get here again,” the Spaniard said after dispatching his French opponent.

“Outside my country, this is my favourite tournament by far. It’s a privilege.”

Alcaraz will play Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the third round.

Twelve months ago, a swarm of bees on court stung Alcaraz and suspended play for nearly two hours during his quarter-final.

Lance Davis of Killer Bee Live Removal had played the hero that day, removing the bees from a moving camera over the court without harming them.

Alcaraz and Davis met at the net for a reunion before the March 8 match, where they shook hands and shared a laugh.

American Taylor Fritz, who lifted the trophy in 2022, struggled to close out Italian Matteo Gigante but ultimately prevailed 6-3, 7-5 in front of a full house.

Fritz was unable to serve out the match at 5-4 in the second set but broke back in the next game en route to the finish.

The third seed said he was being patient with himself as he was coming off an abdominal injury he suffered right after the Australian Open that kept him out of the tournament in Acapulco in February.

“There’s definitely things I could have done better in the match, but overall it was a pretty solid match,” he said.

“I can’t expect to come back and play perfect tennis. I’ve been injured, so I didn’t have ideal prep coming into the tournament.”

Fritz will face 30th-seeded Chilean Alejandro Tabilo for a spot in the round of 16. AFP, REUTERS