Lucky qualifier Luca Nardi beat world No. 1 Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 at the ATP-WTA Indian Wells Masters on Monday , achieving the biggest victory of his young career. The Italian, ranked 123rd in the world, ended the Serbian veteran’s 11-match winning streak at the Masters, while Nardi overtook the boyhood tennis idol, whose poster has hung on his side since he was eight. on the bed. The 20-year-old wasn’t fazed by Djokovic’s performance, blowing Djokovic’s 4-2 lead in the deciding set and winning with a match point ace three games later won.
The Italian hit 36 winners and made 41 unforced errors in less than two and a half hours, while Djokovic committed 31 errors.
“Nobody knew me before tonight,” Nardi said in an on-court interview after the win. “I hope the crowd enjoys the match; I’m very happy with the match.”
When asked how he achieved the biggest win of his career, Nardi replied: “I don’t know. I think it’s really a miracle. I’m a guy who’s outside the top 100 in the world, but now I’m Beating Novak — crazy, crazy.”
Nardi only entered the main draw at Indian Wells after withdrawing. He was defeated by Belgium’s David Goffin in the final round of qualifying.
In other action on Monday, seventh seed Holger Ruhn finally took the field after a first-round bye and a second-round victory over the injured Milos Raonic.
The 20-year-old Dane defeated Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) to overcome a loss at the Queen’s Club grass court event in London last June revenge.
“It feels great to finally get going,” he said after reaching the fourth round for the first time here.
“The wait is finally over and I’m very eager to compete, although I did get an extra two days of practice.”
Norway’s ninth seed Casper Ruud advanced after defeating France’s Arthur Fels 6-2, 6-4.
Sabalenka, Gauff advance
France’s Gael Monfils ends 2021 champion Cameron Norrie’s winning streak as the 36-year-old and Briton hit 31 After a break point, Monfils won 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7). /5), 6-3.
Next up against Nardi, Tommy Paul defeated Dubai champion Ugo Humbert 6-4, 6-4 to win at home.
He was joined by Taylor Fritz, who defeated Argentina’s Sebastian Baez 6-2, 6-2.
In the women’s draw, defending women’s Grand Slam champions Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff advanced to the fourth round in straight sets.
But former world number one and 2018 tournament winner Naomi Osaka failed to join them, with the Japanese eliminated 7-5, 6-4 by Elise Mertens, who will now face Gauff.
The Belgian saved three break points in the final game and advanced on the second match point, but caused a mistake by Osaka.
Four-time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka will return to tennis this season after giving birth.
Previously, double Sabalenka defeated Emma Raducanu 6-3, 7-5, but made a double fault on the match point and needed three more chances to win before finally advancing.
“I’m very happy to end this match in two sets; the last game was close,” Sabalenka said. “If I had lost that game, it would have given her a lot more belief and confidence emotionally – you never know going into a tie-break, it was 50/50.”
The teenage Gauff won the US Open last September, defeating Lucia Bronzetti 6-2, 7-6 (7/5) and winning in the decider with minimal drama. The victory was sealed in the game.
The U.S. Open champion, who turned 20 on Wednesday, won for the sixth consecutive time against his Italian opponent.
“She played really well,” the winner said of Bronzetti. “But I’m much better than the last game – I’m improving every game.”
(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
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