The surprise of the year! Luca Nardi defeats Djokovic in Indian Wells
From entering the main draw as a lucky loser to beating the world No. 1
March 12, 2024
Peter Staples/ATP Tour
World No. 123 Luca Nardi becomes the lowest-ranked player to defeat Novak Djokovic in an ATP Masters 1000 tournament. By ATPTour.com Staff
The mere fact of going out on the court as a lucky loser and rival of his childhood idol could have been a dream come true for Luca Nardi. But the 20-year-old Italian, and No. 123 in the PIF ATP Rankings, wanted more. Far from settling, he obtained the biggest reward of his career so far: beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 and securing a place in the round of 16 of the BNP Paribas Open 2024.
“I don’t think anyone knew me before tonight,” Nardi said after the win of his life. “I hope the public enjoyed the game. “I am very happy with this.”
Prior to this event, he had not won a main draw match on the ATP Tour this season. And his hope of achieving it in Indian Wells was diluted the previous Tuesday when he lost to David Goffin in the last round of the qualifying phase. The loss of Tomás Etcheverry gave him entry as a lucky loser, and now he is the man of the moment in the world of tennis.
His incredible victory against the current No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings is the sixth by a player outside the Top 100 over a No. 1 in the history of the Masters 1000 (category created in 1990). He is now also the lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic in Grand Slams or Masters 1000, surpassing the triumph of then No. 122 Kevin Anderson over the Serbian in Miami 2008.
Tennis players with the worst ranking to beat a No. 1 in Masters 1000
Player
Rival
Event
Francisco Clavet (178°)
Lleyton Hewitt (1°)
Miami 2023
Thanasi Kokkinankis (175°) Roger Federer (1°)
Miami 2018
Vasek Pospisil (129°)
Andy Murray (1°)
Indian Wells 2017
Luca Nardi (123rd)
Novak Djokovic (1°)
Indian Wells 2024
The result is as surprising as the way Nardi tilted it in his favor. Instead of the nerves that were expected on his part when facing a No. 1 and his childhood idol – of whom he has had a poster in his room since he was eight years old – the Italian radiated a confidence inappropriate for someone with just three victories. in his career on the ATP Tour before this duel.
He took control of the match from the beginning, and the statistics reflect it: he scored twice as many winning shots as his rival (34 against 17). And perhaps because of the same intention to dominate, he also committed more than twice as many unforced errors (19 vs. 9). But the formula worked for the participant of the Next Gen ATP Finals 2023.
Although he won fewer points in the match than Djokovic (92 against 93), he prevailed in the most important moments and raised his level when it mattered most. It is true that he did not take advantage of the three break points in the second game of the third set, but he did take advantage of one of the two that the rest faced at 3-2.
From then on he showed an unexpected self-confidence. Many have choked on that point before Djokovic, especially his age. Nardi maintained his composure, and walked confidently toward the victory of his life. In his first match against a Top 5, Nardi celebrates and advances to No. 96 in the live ranking with the hope of rising to the Top 85 if he beats local Tommy Paul in the round of 16.
“I don’t know how I kept my nerve,” he said of the tense end to the match that lasted two hours and 20 minutes. “I think it’s a miracle, because I’m a 20-year-old boy, I’m outside the Top 100 in the rankings, and I beat Novak. “It’s crazy.”
Now Novak Djokovic’s last two defeats have been against Italians: in the semifinals of the Australian Open against Jannik Sinner, and now in the round of 16 at Indian Wells against Nardi.
“It’s probably something that pushed me to be better,” Nardi explained. “I didn’t expect to win today, but I always try to do my best in training, and now this happened and I’m very happy.”
2024-03-12 04:31:24
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