Novak Djokovic aimed to make tennis history with a potential record-setting sixth men’s title at Indian Wells. Despite receiving a bye in the first round, his campaign came to an unexpected halt during his initial match, marred by a series of uncharacteristic errors.
Playing below his usual high caliber, Djokovic racked up 37 unforced errors while only managing 16 winners, a surprising statistic for a player of his stature. After the match, Djokovic graciously acknowledged his opponent, quipping, “It was just a bad day in the office, I guess.” This marks a challenging period for the tennis legend, as he hasn’t advanced past the third round in his last four visits to the tournament.
This latest setback follows last year’s exit at the hands of Italy’s Luca Naldi, another lucky loser. In this match against Van de Zandschulp, Djokovic’s normally formidable return of serve faltered. The Dutch player capitalized on Djokovic’s struggles, successfully converting five out of eight break points.
Djokovic did show signs of his old self, momentarily rallying and leveling the match. Nonetheless, persistent errors, which he attributed to the unfamiliar bounce of the newly updated courts, enabled Van de Zandschulp to dominate the final set.
Even with the support of Andy Murray rejoining his coaching team, Djokovic couldn’t find his rhythm. Together, they’ll head to the Miami Open, hoping to address these issues before they become more ingrained.
As Djokovic approaches his 38th birthday in May, it’s a stark reminder that age can be a formidable opponent. Yet, his recent performances in Melbourne highlight his ability to triumph when fit and focused, suggesting there’s still fire left in him for future challenges.
