Djokovic can't find the light against an inspired Van de Zandschulp

Raquel Bermúdez Rodríguez | 9 Mar 2025 | 01.48

Novak Djokovic, eliminated from Indian Wells 2025. Photo: Getty

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Botic Van de Zandschulp emerged unscathed from a challenging battle, securing a great victory against Novak Djokovic in the second round of Indian Wells 2025 with a score of 6-2, 3-6, and 6-1 after 2 hours of play. Despite being far from his best and quite inconsistent, the Serbian player made 16 winners and 37 unforced errors, a stark contrast to the Dutch player's 26-24 balance. A surprising result in the tournament by Nole, repeating last year's outcome.

Wearing green, just like the Indian Wells courts, the Serbian player stepped onto the central court with a restless audience to begin his adventure in the "tennis paradise," under the watchful eye of Andy Murray who kept cheering from his box. With hardly a gesture of joy or confidence, Botic was the first to break the ice on the scoreboard, although his expression warned himself that there was still much to be played.

From the Dutch player's flawless performance to Novak's moment of disconnection where he couldn't even compete for points, struggling to handle Van de Zandschulp's pressure from the return and lacking the energy to execute his own strategies. Although Djokovic's feelings improved, the pressure was evident on the scoreboard, with the Serbian trailing 1-5. Despite narrowing the gap, Nole's goal was to regain confidence for the second set.

Djokovic shines, but Van de Zandschulp doesn't fade away

The shadow was already creeping onto the court, dimming Botic's performance as he eased off the gas pedal, revealing his weaknesses to an opponent who was taking a step forward. With much more dynamism, Djokovic added a new rhythm to the points with net approaches, lobs, and drop shots. It seemed like everything was in his control, serving for the second set, but his opponent surprised him, causing a slight frustration within himself.

The world number 6 quickly brushed off that situation to return to square one, although his opponent tried to catch him off guard when least expected, all while Novak kept touching his right shoulder area. Despite Djokovic's attempts to recover the break, Botic remained calm throughout. The ending was approaching despite Nole's efforts to find winners but falling short.

With a great lob, Botic put his rival in a difficult position, just one game away from being eliminated from Indian Wells in his debut for the second consecutive year, and against another Lucky Loser (last year it happened against Nardi). Nole's inspiration was fading, with Van de Zandschulp paving his way to the third round due to a mistake from the Serbian.

This news is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic no encuentra la luz contra un Van de Zandschulp inspirado