INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Novak Djokovic was shocked by Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 within the second spherical of the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday, struggling an early exit by the hands of a event fortunate loser for a second consecutive 12 months.
Djokovic fell to fortunate loser Luca Nardi of Italy within the California desert final 12 months, and historical past repeated itself on the Stadium One courtroom a day after top-seeded Alexander Zverev additionally went out.
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, bought off to a horrid begin, hitting 14 unforced errors and being damaged twice within the first set.
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He regrouped to race out to a 3-0 lead within the second, leveling the competition with a mighty forehand winner and pumping his fist to the sold-out crowd.
However Van De Zandschulp ran away with the decider, breaking Djokovic for a fourth time by a wonderfully executed lob for a 3-1 lead and sealing the gorgeous upset when Djokovic’s shot went vast on match level.
“I began very well, after which in fact Novak got here again,” mentioned Van De Zandschulp, who secured a berth to the event upon the withdrawal of Forty seventh-ranked Facundo Diaz Acosta.
“In the long run and within the third set I used to be completely satisfied to get my degree again.”
Van De Zandschulp was up a set and 3-0 on Nick Kyrgios in his first-round match on Stadium One on Thursday earlier than the Australian withdrew with wrist ache.
Djokovic, 37, retired from his Australian Open semifinal in opposition to Zverev with a hamstring harm and misplaced within the Qatar Open first spherical final month.
He mentioned the leg harm was behind him coming into the event and didn’t look hampered by it in his match Saturday, when he was accompanied by coach Andy Murray.
Djokovic’s loss led a day of upsets that included seventh-seeded Andrey Rublev dropping 6-4, 7-5 to Italy’s Matteo Arnaldi and Seventeenth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime falling to American Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-2.
World No. 1 Jannik Sinner just isn’t taking part in on the event as he serves a doping suspension.
