Novak Djokovic is looking for his sixth title in the California desert, which would break the record he shares with Federer.
Novak Djokovic wants it all. The best tennis player who ever wielded a racket so far arrived on Saturday to claim an impressive victory at the Indian Wells Masters 1000, the first tournament of the category in the calendar and that he had not played since 2019, between the pandemic and a vaccine against COVID-19.
Novak Djokovic had not played for five years but made it look like he played yesterday
Jannik Sinner & Novak Djokovic serving at the exact same time 😂
Perfectly in sync.
They couldn’t have planned it better.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) March 9, 2024
Novak Djokovic is poised to get a new record in the California desert. The six titles would break the all-time high of five that he currently shares with Roger Federer.
The Serb, who defeated Alexandar Vukic 6-2, 5-7, 6-3, has now reached 400 Masters 1000 victories, the only other player to have more than him is Rafael Nada with 406. A record that the Mallorcan could lose when they meet in just two weeks in Miami.
Novak Djokovic returns back to India Wells today for his first match there in 5 years. Throwback to this point from his first title run.
Only the GOAT can manage to drop his racquet mid point and still go on to win the point.pic.twitter.com/KNk6B0FVnZ
— Bishal (@bishalc004) March 9, 2024
The 24-time major champion will face in the third round of Indian Wells the Italian ‘lucky loser’ as some call Luca Nardi, who defeated the Chinese Zhang, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3. The tennis player from Belgrade, who turns 37 on May 22, lives an eternal youth: “It’s been five years since I last played here and it seems like yesterday,” he claimed.
The funniest thing about the absolutely ridiculous notion of a 40+ year old Novak Djokovic playing in the 2028 Olympics is that, because he's Novak fucking Djokovic, it isn't ridiculous at all. 😂 pic.twitter.com/WG9F71NoLe
— Scott Barclay (@BarclayCard18) March 8, 2024
At this point, Novak Djokovic has skin in the game and he’s preparing, like when he traveled to the Coachella Valley a week earlier (he was on the plane with Nadal on Thursday, February 22) to get used to the playing surface and the balls.
Novak Djokovic channelling his inner Cristiano Ronaldo 😂 pic.twitter.com/n1Uy2vZ7xm
— Sky Sports Tennis (@SkySportsTennis) March 9, 2024
He had time to play soccer with the other tennis players on the natural grass lawn reserved for the pros at the Tennis Garden and share a charity event with Charlize Theron herself.
