Novak Djokovic exits Indian Wells in first spherical after taking place to fortunate loser

5-time champion Novak Djokovic tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Saturday, falling in his first match to fortunate loser Botic van de Zandschulp as two-time defending champ Carlos Alcaraz superior.

“No excuses for a poor efficiency,” 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic mentioned after 37 unforced errors in a 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 defeat.

“It doesn’t really feel nice once you play this manner on the courtroom,” he added. “However congratulations to my opponent – only a dangerous day within the workplace, I assume, for me.”

Djokovic is simply the most recent in van de Zandschulp’s string of famous person victims.

He shocked Alcaraz on the US Open final yr earlier than beating Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup in what proved the Spanish nice’s final match.

“I feel I saved my cool throughout the entire match,” mentioned van de Zandschulp. “I do know if I’m going into the match and lose my cool, particularly towards the massive gamers, it’s going to be a extremely powerful day. That’s at all times one factor I’m making an attempt to do nicely.”

After 14 unforced errors within the first set, Djokovic cleaned issues up within the second, grabbing a fast break on the best way to a 3-0 lead.

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

The rallies remained tense affairs and Djokovic’s frustration was clear at instances, however after he was damaged when serving for the set he closed it out on his subsequent service recreation, muscling a forehand winner to the baseline to degree the match.

It was solely a short respite. Van de Zandschulp saved the strain on each from the baseline and on the web and Djokovic’s errors started to pile up once more.

Van de Zandschulp took management with a break for 3-1, reeling off the final 5 video games as Djokovic was unable to cease the bleeding.

“The primary three video games, 4 video games of the third set had been fairly shut,” Djokovic mentioned. “Had my possibilities. Was just a few terrible errors.”

Djokovic, seeded sixth, joined world quantity two and prime seed Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Casper Ruud in exiting within the second spherical.

Alcaraz relaxed and prepared

With Zverev out and world primary Jannik Sinner serving a three-month medication ban, world quantity three Alcaraz is the best seed left within the males’s draw.

Alcaraz, making an attempt to affix Djokovic and Roger Federer as the one males to win three straight Indian Wells titles, eased into his defence with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over France’s Quentin Halys.

He admitted he was feeling some nerves to begin the match, however they evaporated amid a robust all-around efficiency.

One early break staked Alcaraz to the primary set, and he roared to a 4-0 lead within the second behind a formidable service show.

He completed with seven aces and saved the one break level he confronted, securing the win in 67 minutes.

“I used to be nervous firstly of the match,” he informed a supportive crowd. “The primary match isn’t simple so I used to be making an attempt to be targeted on my recreation.

“I simply tried to be relaxed, as relaxed as I can. Can at all times be higher, however I’m prepared for the (subsequent) spherical and excited.”

Australian Open champion Madison Keys opened the day’s motion within the mixed ATP Masters and WTA 1000 occasion, subduing hard-hitting Russian Anastasia Potapova 6-3, 6-0 in her first match since her maiden Grand Slam triumph.

She confirmed no signal of rust as she dispatched Potapova in 63 minutes.

Later world primary Aryna Sabalenka launched her bid for an elusive Indian Wells title towards hard-hitting American McCartney Kessler.

In different early matches, Individuals Taylor Fritz and Coco Gauff each superior.

Fritz, the 2022 males’s champion, defeated Italian qualifier Matteo Gigante 7-5, 6-3 whereas Gauff – like Fritz seeded third in her draw – clawed out a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) victory over Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima.