Novak Djokovic will seek his sixth Indian Wells title and the first since 2016. The Serb is targeting his first good result in Tennis Paradise since 2016. However, he will have to display his best tennis from the opening match to remain on the title course.
Novak will kick off the campaign against a qualifier or Nick Kyrgios. The Aussie is returning to action after a challenging start to the season, and this could be a real test where his game and body currently stand.
Djokovic and Kyrgios shared the court at the start of the season in Brisbane, enjoying a lot! Now, they could embrace their fourth singles duel, the first since the 2022 Wimbledon final. It could also be their second Indian Wells encounter, the first in eight years.
Nick Kyrgios, Indian Wells 2017© Stream screenshot
Novak and Nick forged a quick rivalry in 2017, facing in Acapulco and Indian Wells. The Aussie stunned the Serb in Acapulco and mirrored that in Indian Wells. Kyrgios ousted the three-time defending champion 6-4, 7-6 in an hour and 52 minutes for a place in the quarter-final.
It was a tight duel, and Kyrgios claimed the pivotal points, delivering Djokovic’s first Indian Wells defeat since 2013. The Aussie claimed seven points more than the Serb and made the difference behind the first serve.
Nick took 43% of the points behind the initial shot with a service winner, avoiding break points and keeping the pressure on the other side. Novak fought well but missed a chance to extend the battle. He denied four of five break points but still ended on the losing side.
Novak Djokovic, Indian Wells 2017© Stream screenshot
Kyrgios tamed his strokes nicely and fired 25 winners and 19 unforced errors. Djokovic could not follow that pace after spraying too many errors from his backhand that worked much better against Juan Martin del Potro in the previous duel.
Novak forged a slight edge in the mid-range exchanges. However, Nick canceled it in the shortest ones up to four strokes and sealed the deal in style after facing only one deuce in 11 service games. The three-time defending champion made a shaky start.
Djokovic netted a backhand in the first game of the duel and suffered a costly break. Kyrgios landed an ace down the T line in the second game for 2-0. The Aussie drew the rival’s mistake in the fourth game and opened a 3-1 gap.
Novak Djokovic, Indian Wells 2017© Stream screenshot
Nick closed the sixth game with an ace and missed a break chance in the next one. Novak missed another backhand in the eighth game and fell 5-3 behind. The younger player landed a backhand winner in game ten and closed it with a powerful serve for 6-4 in 46 minutes.
Djokovic served well at the beginning of the second set, and his rival followed that pace. Nick landed an unreturned serve for 3-3 and hit an ace two games later for 4-4 and more drama. The Serb reached his only deuce on the return at 5-4.
Nick Kyrgios, Indian Wells 2017© Stream screenshot
The Aussie stayed focused and landed two winners to bring the game home and gain a boost. The legend denied two break points in the 11th game and secured a tie break. Novak played a terrible backhand slice in the first point to experience a mini-break.
Kyrgios fired two service winners for 3-0 and drew Djokovic’s mistake in the seventh point for 5-2. Novak missed a routine forehand in the eighth point and offered his rival four match points. Nick converted the second with a service winner, beating Novak for the second time within a couple of weeks.
Tennis World USA