A year ago, Luca Nardi qualified for the main draw in Indian Wells and made a name for himself. The young Italian toppled the five-time champion and his idol Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in two hours and 20 minutes for his career-best win.
Luca returned to Tennis Paradise this week but could not repeat his notable run from 12 months ago. Nardi suffered a heavy 6-0, 6-3 loss to the former champion Cameron Norrie in 64 minutes on Stadium 2.
As the result suggests, nothing worked for the young gun. He struggled on serve and return and left the court just after an hour despite high hopes.
Cruising by 💪@cam_norrie takes out Nardi 6-0 6-3 to advance to R2 in the desert!@BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/DIF7V89wzd
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 6, 2025
Norrie collected 27 points more than his opponent. The Briton lost ten points in eight service games and denied the only break point he faced. Nardi stood miles behind those numbers, especially after serving at 48%! He dropped 54% of the points in his games and faced ten break points.
Cameron converted four and sailed over the top in no time. The former champion fired 21 winners and 14 unforced errors, leaving his rival on a 12-22 ratio. Cameron built a 14-4 advantage in service winners, leading to a 33-15 gap in the shortest exchanges.
Luca Nardi & Cameron Norrie, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
He was 26-16 in front in the more advanced rallies, earning his victory in style and making a winning start. A left-hander made a push on the return in the second game of the match and seized the fourth chance for an early advantage.
Luca netted a routine forehand in the fourth game, suffering another break and falling 4-0 behind. The Italian fired a running forehand crosscourt winner in the fifth game for his only break chance. Norrie denied it with a service winner and held for 5-0.
Cameron Norrie, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
Nardi served to stay in the set in game six and faced two set points after the rival’s forehand winner. Cameron wasted them but earned the third. He drew the rival’s mistake to produce a bagel in 27 minutes. Luca raised his level behind the initial shot in the second set.
He saved a break point in the fourth game with a backhand volley winner and held for 2-2. Norrie provided four comfortable holds and moved 4-3 up with a backhand down the line winner. The Briton stepped in on the return and generated three break chances.
Luca Nardi, Indian Wells 2025© Stream screenshot
He seized the first after a terrible drop shot from the Italian, opening a 5-3 gap and serving for the win. Cameron sealed the deal with a forehand winner at the net, rattling off 12 of the final 13 points and moving over the top.
Tennis World USA