Novak Djokovic knocked out of BNP Paribas Open by “Lucky Loser” Luca Nardi in stunning upset
Down goes Djokovic!
Down goes Djokovic!
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) March 12, 2024
Lucky loser, 20-year-old Luca Nardi takes down the great Novak Djokovic in the 3rd round.
Wow! An absolute stunner inside Stadium 1 at Indian Wells! The 5-time tournament champion and 24-time grand slam winner is OUT at the @BNPPARIBASOPEN @KESQ
World No. 1 Novak Djokovic is out of the 2024 BNP Paribas Open after losing to "Lucky Loser" Luca Nardi.
Novak Djokovic following the loss to "lucky loser" Luca Nardi in the 3rd round at Indian Wells. The World No. 1 and 5-time tournament champion was seeking a record 6th title in the desert. @KESQ @BNPPARIBASOPEN pic.twitter.com/k60ZqhuyZH
— Blake Arthur (@BlakeArthur24) March 12, 2024
Djokovic played his first match back in Indian Wells on Saturday after a five-year absence. He was favored to win a record 6th tournament title but history will not happen this year.
In a shocking upset, 20-year-old Luca Nardi of Italy beat his idol Djokovic in three sets, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6.
The win of his LIFE 😲
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 12, 2024
Lucky loser @Luca___Nardi stuns World No. 1 Djokovic 6-4 3-6 6-3!#IndianWells | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/Xaj39M266h
What a performance ❤️@Luca___Nardi | #TennisParadise | #IndianWells pic.twitter.com/f6aspDBILv
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 12, 2024
Nardi wasn't even supposed to still be in the tournament. He lost on Tuesday in a qualifier but was awarded the "Lucky Loser" to continue his journey. A "Lucky Loser" is a player who stumbled on the final hurdle in qualifying but made it into the main draw as a replacement for an injured player who pulled out before the first round.
Nardi replaced Tomas Martin Etcheverry, who suffered a hamstring strain on Thursday.
March 5: @Luca___Nardi loses in R2 of qualifying to David Goffin.
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 12, 2024
March 9: Gets into the draw as a lucky loser & wins his first tour-level match of 2024 against Zhizhen Zhang.
March 11: Defeats World No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
Tennis is wild, man.#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/RJAL7qByQH
According to Tennis TV, Nardi, World No. 123, is the lowest-ranked player to beat Djokovic in a major tournament since 2008.
DAVID BEATS GOLIATH!! 🤯
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 12, 2024
Lucky loser @Luca___Nardi becomes the LOWEST-ranked player to beat Djokovic at a Masters 1000 or Grand Slam since 2008!#TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/swG4rYoS0J
Sports Director Blake Arthur will have more on this major upset and other highlights from Monday's action. Watch News Channel 3 at 10 and 11 p.m.
