Indian Wells
Djokovic ends 9-year Indian Wells wait with newest three-set win
Third seed downs Kovacevic to achieve R4 for first time since 2017
March 09, 2026
ATP Tour
Novak Djokovic is making his seventeenth look on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
By Jerome Coombe
Novak Djokovic might have endured his share of latest struggles on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, however the five-time champion took one other step ahead on Monday with a resilient victory.
The previous No. 1 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings fought previous American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to e book his place within the fourth spherical of the ATP Masters 1000 occasion for the primary time since 2017. It’s the second consecutive match this week during which Djokovic has want three units, having battled via a troublesome opener in opposition to Kamil Majchrzak to start his marketing campaign.
Tuff W! 😤@DjokerNole outlasts a troublesome opponent in Kovacevic, securing his spot within the fourth spherical for the primary time since 2017. @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/Hj8fpoLAla
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 9, 2026
“It was an amazing efficiency from Aleks. We all know one another. We communicate the identical language. His complete household is Serbian,” mentioned Djokovic. “It’s nice to see him doing nicely. He’s performed an amazing event thus far. I knew coming into the match that if he serves nicely and picks his spots, it was going to be arduous to interrupt him. That’s what occurred, truly.”
Though Djokovic is a five-time champion in Indian Wells — tied with Roger Federer for essentially the most titles in event historical past — the 38-year-old has acknowledged that he has struggled to rediscover his best level within the California desert in latest seasons. Final 12 months he suffered a shock opening-round defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp, and on Saturday he was pressured to dig deep whereas coping with bodily discomfort in his win in opposition to Majchrzak.
Djokovic, nevertheless, has continued to navigate powerful assessments throughout his seventeenth look on the occasion. The Serbian will subsequent face defending champion Jack Draper or Argentine Francisco Cerundolo for a spot within the quarter-finals.
“I’m not likely having fun with myself always, to be sincere,” Djokovic mentioned when requested concerning the calls for of the match in opposition to Kovacevic. “You’re attempting to thrive in these sorts of circumstances the place you’re dealing with an opponent taking part in lights-out tennis… However profitable ugly, proper? That’s what counts. I’m glad to have the ability to overcome the problem at present.”
Kovacevic, who first met his idol Djokovic at Flushing Meadows in 2005, pushed the 24-time main champion all through the competition. The American completed the opening set strongly, profitable 13 consecutive factors on serve, earlier than levelling the match with an impressed second-set efficiency that capitalised on a mid-match dip from Djokovic.
Within the deciding set, Djokovic steadied himself and commenced to seek out his vary within the desert circumstances, regardless of clutching his ankle after an prolonged level within the third sport. Djokovic has now emerged victorious in 34 of his previous 35 matches after profitable the opening set, in keeping with the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, with the one defeat in that span coming in opposition to World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz within the Australian Open ultimate in January.
With the victory, Djokovic grew to become the second-oldest participant to achieve the fourth spherical of an ATP Masters 1000 occasion for the reason that collection started in 1990, behind solely Ivo Karlovic, who achieved the feat in Indian Wells in 2019 on the age of 40.
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