Djokovic Eliminated by Lucky Loser van de Zandschulp at Indian Wells

In a surprising upset at the Indian Wells ATP Masters, 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic was eliminated in the second round by Dutch lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp, losing 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Djokovic, seeded sixth, struggled with 37 unforced errors, including 14 in the first set alone, and faced significant pressure from van de Zandschulp, who maintained his composure throughout the match. Despite a solid comeback in the second set, Djokovic faltered in the decider, allowing van de Zandschulp to secure the victory with a series of breaks. This defeat marks Djokovic's second consecutive year losing to a lucky loser at Indian Wells, having previously fallen to Luca Nardi in the 2024 tournament. The result follows a string of early exits for Djokovic, including a retirement due to injury at the Australian Open earlier this year. Van de Zandschulp's victory adds to his reputation as a giant killer, having previously toppled top players like Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal.