Tennis World in Shock: Djokovic’s Third Straight Loss Raises Alarms

Djokovic’s Third Straight Loss

Raises Alarms

In a surprising turn of events at the 2025 Indian Wells Masters, tennis icon Novak Djokovic faced an unexpected second-round defeat against Dutch player Botic van de Zandschulp. The match concluded with scores of 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 in favor of van de Zandschulp, marking Djokovic’s third consecutive loss—a streak not seen since 2008.

Van de Zandschulp, ranked 85th globally, entered the main draw as a ‘lucky loser’ after Argentina’s Facundo Diaz Acosta withdrew. He capitalized on Djokovic’s uncharacteristic errors, with the Serbian committing 37 unforced errors during the match. Despite a brief resurgence in the second set, Djokovic struggled with the high bounce on the newly resurfaced courts, which have been adjusted to align more closely with the Miami Open and U.S. Open conditions.

Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic acknowledged his shortcomings, stating, “No excuses for a poor performance. It doesn’t feel great when you play this way on the court. But congratulations to my opponent—just a bad day in the office, I guess, for me.”

Djokovic’s recent form has been a topic of discussion, especially after retiring from the Australian Open semi-final due to a hamstring injury. While he did not show signs of impairment during the Indian Wells match, the lack of match fitness and rhythm was evident. This loss adds to a series of setbacks, including a withdrawal from the Australian Open and an opening match loss at the Qatar Open.

The 37-year-old’s recent string of defeats has sparked discussions among fans and analysts about his current form and his prospects in upcoming competitions. As he prepares for the Miami Open, all eyes will be on the Serbian star to see if he can rebound and reclaim his dominant position in the tennis world.

On the other hand, van de Zandschulp expressed satisfaction with his performance, noting, “I think I kept my cool during the whole match. The second set was very tough, he gained a big lead. But I think I did well turning it to 5-3 to get the momentum back a little bit.”

Novak Djokovic’s early exit from the Indian Wells Masters serves as a reminder of the challenges even the greatest athletes face. As he navigates this phase of his illustrious career, the tennis community remains hopeful for his resurgence in the upcoming tournaments.