INDIAN WELLS: In a shocking upset, world number one Novak Djokovic fell 6-4 3-6 6-3 to lucky loser Luca Nardi during the third round of Indian Wells on Monday. The 20-year-old Italian, ranked 123rd globally, delivered a performance of a lifetime, defeating the Serbian icon. Displaying sheer disbelief, Nardi dropped his racket and covered his face as he fired an ace to secure the victory, having grown up idolizing Djokovic.
Meanwhile, Gael Monfils staged a remarkable comeback against former champion Cameron Norrie, overcoming a set and 3-0 deficit to triumph 6-7(5) 7-6(5) 6-3 and advance to the last 16. The 37-year-old Frenchman enthralled the audience with his inventive shot-making, setting the stage for a fourth-round clash against either 19-year-old compatriot Arthur Fils or ninth seed Casper Ruud.
Norrie, the 2021 tournament winner, struggled with 60 unforced errors and couldn’t decode Monfils’ unpredictable game plan during their three-hour and 15-minute encounter.
In other third-round action, seventh seed Holger Rune defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-2 7-6(5), while 17th-seeded American Tommy Paul breezed past Ugo Humbert 6-4 6-4.