Unranked Italian sensation stuns Djokovic, ending 11-match Masters win streak

The Italian, ranked 123rd in the world, brought an end to the veteran Serb’s impressive 11-match winning streak at Masters events.  Luca Nardi, aged 20, outplayed Djokovic, breaking him for a 4-2 lead in the decisive set and securing victory three games later with a match-point ace, unfazed by facing his childhood tennis idol.

Nardi’s performance, marked by 36 winners and 41 unforced errors, contrasted with Djokovic’s 31 errors in a match lasting just under two and a half hours.

Reflecting on his monumental win, Nardi expressed his disbelief, labeling it a «miracle» and acknowledging his status as an underdog ranked outside the top 100.

Entering the Indian Wells main draw as a lucky loser after a previous defeat in qualifying, Nardi’s unexpected triumph left him overjoyed.

Djokovic, on the other hand, attributed his loss to a “really, really bad” day at the office, acknowledging Nardi’s deserving victory.

In contrast, seventh seed Holger Rune secured a 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) victory against Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti after a first-round bye and a second-round walkover.

Fourth seed Daniil Medvedev faced a challenging match against Sebastian Korda, prevailing 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 in a contest featuring 31 break points, with Medvedev set to face Grigor Dimitrov next.

Meanwhile, ninth seed Casper Ruud advanced with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over France’s Arthur Fils.

Djokovic concluded his defeat by acknowledging the fearless approach of Luca Nardi, stating that the Italian had nothing to lose, while also attributing the outcome to his own subpar performance.