Novak Djokovic’s struggles continued at Indian Wells as he suffered a shocking second-round defeat to world No. 85 Botic van de Zandschulp, losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Despite his impressive Australian Open victory over Carlos Alcaraz, Djokovic has now lost three consecutive matches. A lingering thigh injury forced him to retire from his semi-final against Alexander Zverev and contributed to his first-round loss in Qatar to Matteo Berrettini.
Djokovic’s lack of match fitness was evident in the opening set, with Van de Zandschulp dominating play and winning 18 of 19 points in one stretch. While Djokovic managed to rally in the second set, his inconsistency resurfaced in the decider, allowing his opponent to take control and close out the match. Van de Zandschulp, who entered the main draw as a lucky loser, became the third player in that category to defeat Djokovic in his career.
Earlier, Jack Draper delivered a stellar performance, defeating João Fonseca 6-4, 6-0 to advance to the third round. The 13th seed faced a tough draw against the 18-year-old Brazilian, known for his explosive shotmaking. However, Draper’s strong defense and ability to turn points from defense to attack neutralized Fonseca’s game.
Draper has had a challenging start to the season due to a hip injury, making Indian Wells only his third tournament of the year. Despite limited match play, he has shown resilience and adaptability. His next opponent is American Jenson Brooksby, who upset Felix Auger Aliassime.
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz also made a strong start, dispatching Quentin Halys 6-4, 6-2 to reach the third round.
In the women’s draw, British No. 3 Sonay Kartal capitalized on her lucky loser status, securing the biggest win of her career with a 6-2, 6-1 victory over 16th seed Beatriz Haddad Maia. Kartal, who initially fell in qualifying, entered the main draw after Sloane Stephens withdrew due to injury. Her win over Haddad Maia marked her first career victory against a top-30 opponent. Already at a career-high ranking near No. 70, she will next face Polina Kudermetova for a spot in the fourth round.
