(March 12, 2024) INDIAN WELLS TENNIS GARDEN – Just a few days ago, Italy’s Luca Nardi was about to leave the Indian Wells tournament after losing in the final round of qualifying to David Goffin. But a couple of days later, the 20-year-old was back in the tournament reached the draw due to the withdrawal of No. 30 Tomas Martin Etcheverry.
Nardi stunned his childhood idol, No. 1 and five-time champion Novak Djokovic on Monday night 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open.
Nardi used a powerful forehand and targeted the Serbian’s backhand in the improbable victory for the world No.123.
At match point, Nardi aced Djokovic, dropped his racquet and put his head in his hands in disbelief.
“This is a miracle,” Nardi said in an interview after the match with the Tennis Channel. “I’m a 20-years-old guy, 100 in the world, and beating Novak. So, crazy. Crazy.”
“Amazing feeling,” he told media during his news conference. “I couldn’t even imagine to play a match against him, and now I also beat him. So it’s such a dream come true for me.”
There was a moment in the match when Nardi was surprised by an “in” call and nonchalantly hit the ball back over the net. It led to a winner, and Djokovic complained to the umpire about potential hindrance call.
“Honestly, in the first two or three games, I thought that (i could win) — before the match I spoke to my coach and I said, you know, I don’t want to lose 6-1, 6-1. After three or four games, because there was so much windy today, so it wasn’t easy to play for both of us, and I think I started good. I realize that during the rally I was feeling good. So, I don’t know, yeah, maybe in the first games.”
“I’m 20 years old, and we are out watching him play, so I watch his matches, ten years, for sure. The only one advantage that I had, it was that he didn’t see me never play.
“So for sure, it was, like, surprise for me that I could be able to play the rally. And yeah, maybe in the three or four games I realize that I could play, like, 50/50, no, but like 60 and 40 game, and going to in the match, I felt I was playing good.”
Djokovic said it was a bad night:
“Congrats to him for particularly in the third set playing some great, great tennis.
“I watched him play. I didn’t know much about him, but I watched him play, and I knew he possesses great quality tennis from the baseline, especially the forehand side. Moves well. Very talented.
“He got in as a Lucky Loser to main draw, so he really didn’t have anything to lose, so he played great. Deserved to win. I was more surprised with my level. My level was really, really bad.
“That’s it, you know. These two things come together. He’s having a great day; I’m having a really bad day. Results as a negative outcome for me.”
“I helped him play well, and I didn’t help myself at all, ” said the all-time major leader.
“I made some really terrible unforced errors. Just quite defensive tennis, and, you know, not much on the ball in the third, and that’s it. You know, he just stepped in and he used the time that he had. He was playing more free and more aggressive than I did, and going for his shots and that break on 3-2 in the third was enough.
“Just a bit of windy conditions today. Completely contrary to what I was having in my training sessions these days, and the first match, but still, it’s not an excuse. I should have done much better.
“But again, credit to him for pulling it off.”
While five Italians have defeated the ATP’s No. 1 at Masters 1000 events since 1990, Luca Nardi is now only the second to achieve the feat on hard court, after Jannik Sinner.
Speaking of Italians, Nardi was asked f with the surge of his countrymen in the rankings and now Jannik Sinner with a major title, if some of the good luck has rubbed off on him.
He replied: “I don’t know. I don’t know if there is some secrets. But for sure, like me, as all the Italian players, I look up to Jannik to what he’s doing. I had the chances to practice with him many times. I always try to learn from him, because he’s a very nice guy, hard worker, and it’s very nice what he’s doing for Italy, for our country, for tennis in Italy, because now tennis is getting also more popular.
“So it’s a very nice thing. I hope that I can join him. Not with his results, but, you know, we never know.”
Luca Nardi is now the third lucky loser to defeat the ATP’s No. 1 at a Masters 1000 event, after Guillermo Canas (Indian Wells 2007) and Borna Coric (Madrid 2017).
Nardi, whose victory over Djokovic was just his fifth ATP Tour level match win, will play American Tommy Paul in the round of 16.
“Tommy Paul for what? I play against him? Oh, really? ,” said Nardi during the news conference.
“I didn’t know. I mean… I didn’t check the draw. Okay. So thanks for letting me know.
“I mean, I don’t know what to say. I didn’t know it, so for sure I will prepare the match with my coaches. And it’s going to be a very tough one, because he’s playing very good. I like his game, his style. Let’s see what happen.”
“I could have done everything different. I mean, as I said, very poor performance from my side,” Djokovic said to media.
“Yeah, no titles this year. That’s not something I’m used to. I was starting the season most of my career with a Grand Slam win or, you know, Dubai win, or any or tournament.
“It’s fine. You know, it’s part of the sport. You just have to accept it. Some you win; some you lose. Hopefully I’ll win some more and still keep going.
“I guess every trophy that eventually comes my way is going to be great (smiling), obviously to break the kind of negative cycle a little bit I’m having in the last three, four tournaments where I haven’t really been close to my best.”
As for Djokovic, he will examen the loss and move on:
“I’m going to obviously analyze what was done, what could have been done better, and then move on.
“I do play fewer tournaments, so I’m more selective with my schedule. So of course it’s not great feeling when you, you know, drop out very early in the tournament, and especially here, I haven’t played five years. I really wanted to do well. But wasn’t meant to be. We move on.”
Nardi is lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic in a major or ATP Masters 1000 level event, surpassing No. 122 Kevin Anderson in 2008 in Miami.
More to follow…
This website aggregates and curates news articles, blog posts, and other content from a variety of external sources. While we aim to link back to the original source, this site does not own or claim ownership of any articles, posts, or other content indexed on this site. The views, opinions, and factual statements expressed in each piece of aggregated content belong solely to its respective author and publisher. We make no representations or warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of aggregated content. Visitors are advised to verify facts and claims through the original source before reuse or redistribution.
