Luca Nardi is ready for another strong Indian Wells campaign. A year ago, the young Italian produced a stunner in the desert, qualifying for the main draw and defeating the five-time champion Novak Djokovic!
Luca and Novak met in the third round, and the young gun delivered a 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 victory in two hours and 20 minutes. Thus, the 20-year-old notched only his fourth ATP victory against his idol. While admitting many still do not know his name, Nardi became a player who beat Novak Djokovic, which speaks enough for itself!
Djokovic did not feel well, requiring a stomach pill. The five-time winners claimed the second set before losing ground again in the decider, propelling his rival over the top.
Desde los ocho años, Luca Nardi tiene una foto de Djokovic en la puerta de su cuarto.
Hoy se enfrentaron por primera vez.
Y le ganó.
— Set Tenis (@settenisok) March 12, 2024
The veteran took one point more than the youngster, but not the pivotal ones. The Serb created only four break points and seized two in the second set. Luca attacked and forged 11 break opportunities. He seized three and did enough to emerge at the top.
The Italian hit 36 winners and 41 unforced errors, while reducing his idol to 18 direct points and 31 mistakes. Novak wasted a 40-15 lead in the fifth game of the opening set and suffered a break when a qualifier landed a forehand winner.
Luca Nardi, Indian Wells 2024© Stream screenshot
Nardi produced fine holds in games six and eight and served for the opener at 5-4. The young gun opened it with a volley winner and landed a powerful serve for 6-4 in 44 minutes. The Serb raised his level in the second set and welcomed almost 20 unforced errors from his rival.
Djokovic bounced back from 0-40 in the second game and delivered his first break of the match. The third game offered a controversy, and Luca closed it on the fifth break point to pull the break back. Novak made another push on the return in the sixth game.
Novak Djokovic, Indian Wells 2024© Stream screenshot
He delivered a break and held in the next one for 5-2. Nardi denied two set points on serve in game eight before the five-time winner wrapped it up with a backhand winner at 5-3. The Italian generated three break points in the second game, and the Serb denied them.
Nardi forged a 3-2 lead with a smash winner and welcomed the rival’s forehand error in the next one for three break points. The young gun clinched a break and landed a service winner in the next one for 5-2. Novak closed the eighth game at love and extended the battle.
Luca Nardi, Indian Wells 2024© Stream screenshot
The 20-year-old served for his career-best victory at 5-3 and maintained his composure. Luca fired two winners at 15-15 for two match points and seized the first with an ace to produce a stunner on a thrilling desert night.
“As soon as I arrived at Tennis Paradise, I felt some good emotions. It’s a very good feeling to be back here. Usually, I’m not Luca Nardi. Maybe they do not know my name, but I’m the guy that beat Djokovic! It was wild.
Going to the net knowing that I beat Novak was something I could never imagine. It was a very nice moment. I thought I would make a double fault on a match point, and I hit an ace instead. I did not play at my best in the months after that great win.
However, I have raised my level in the past few months, improving my game and the ranking. I made some recent changes in the balance of my racquet frame, and I’m serving a bit better. I played well here last year and want to repeat that,” Luca Nardi said.
Tennis World USA