Van de Zandschulp stuns five-time champion Djokovic in Indian Wells

Lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp scored a major upset on Saturday by stunning five-time champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The No. 85 in the PIF ATP Rankings capitalised on an uncharacteristically error-strewn opening set from Djokovic before conjuring some inspired shot-making prowess in the decider to prevail in two hours, one minute. By securing his eighth victory over a Top 10 opponent, Van de Zandschulp notched back-to-back wins on the ATP Tour for the first time in 2025.

“I think I kept my cool during the whole match,” said Van de Zandschulp. “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. I think I started well, surviving one or two games in the third set, and then broke and turned it around. I know if I go into the match and lose my cool, especially against the big players, it’s going to be a really tough day. That’s always one thing I’m trying to do well.”

Djokovic, who owns the record for most titles (40), finals (59) and semi-finals (78) at ATP Masters 1000 level, was aiming to tie Rafael Nadal for most wins (410). Yet the 37-year-old was unable to maintain the momentum shift as Van de Zandschulp levelled their Lexus ATP Head2Head series at 1-1.

ATP Masters 1000 Win Leaders in Series History (since 1990)

Having drastically reduced his unforced error count from 14 to six between the opening two sets, it appeared as if Djokovic was beginning to find his groove in the California desert. Van de Zandschulp, however, came back with venom, outlasting the 24-time major winner from the baseline with ease and coming up clutch when at the net.

Van de Zandschulp entered the first ATP Masters 1000 of the year with a 1-5 tour-level record on the season, but he may have turned that form around by reaching the third round in Indian Wells, where he will face Argentine Francisco Cerundolo.

After retiring in his Australian Open semi-final against Alexander Zverev, falling to Matteo Berrettini in his Doha opener and now suffering defeat to Van de Zandschulp, it is just the second time Djokovic has lost three consecutive matches since the start of the 2008 season (2018, Aus. Open-Miami). In Saturday’s second-round clash in Indian Wells, Djokovic won 63 per cent (31/49) of points behind his first deliveries, and saved three of eight break points he faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Grigor Dimitrov raced into the third round with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Portugal’s Nuno Borges. The Bulgarian levelled the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series 1-1.

The 14th seed, making his 12th Indian Wells main draw appearance, seized control of the clash from the start and gave the Portuguese 28-year-old no chance to claw back into the match. He saved seven of eight break points he faced in the one-hour, 33-minute match, according to Infosys ATP Stats.

Dimitrov will next face Gael Monfils or Sebastian Korda.

Home favourite Ben Shelton also enjoyed a routine 6-3, 6-2 victory against Argentine Mariano Navone. 11th-seeded Shelton, who hit 21 winners to Navone’s 11, won 80 per cent (28/35) of his first-serve points and and didn't face a break point in the match.

“Yeah, I thought it was just tough. I played the big points well. I don't think I faced a break point today, so I'm pretty happy with how I served and backed up my serve. I thought I returned really well and just found a good rhythm early in a tournament like this is all you can hope for,” Shelton said.

“And for me to get started like this as quickly as I did and break three times and not get broken, it's a good sign for me. I'm happy with where I'm at right now and keep working to try to move forward and get better throughout the tournament.”

The World No. 12 will face Karen Khachanov in the third round. Khachanov defeated #NextGenATP star Jakub Mensik 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.