Djokovic crashes out of Indian Wells opener

Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after defeating Carlos Alcaraz of Spain in their quarterfinal match at the Australian Open tennis championship in Melbourne, Australia, early Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake) (AP)

Five-time champion Novak Djokovic tumbled out of the Indian Wells ATP Masters on Saturday, falling in his first match to lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp.

The Dutch player who toppled Carlos Alcaraz at the US Open last year before beating Rafael Nadal in Davis Cup in the Spanish great’s last match, beat 24-time Grand Slam champion Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-1.

The Serb star, seeded sixth, joined world number two and top seed Alexander Zverev and fourth seed Casper Ruud in exiting in the second round.