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The Indian Wells Masters just served tennis fans with one of its biggest upsets recently. Novak Djokovic lost to lucky loser Luca Nardi, and fans are unable to believe the result. Many are showing signs of surprise on social media, including the brother of John McEnroe, Patrick McEnroe, who found himself astounded at the result.

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The bout between Djokovic and Nardi was a great clash to watch as the two players traded blow for blow. Being a clash of Djokovic, it would feel unfinished without some drama, which took place in the second set.

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“…beaten by 20 year old” – John McEnroe’s brother said what the whole tennis fraternity is thinking about

In round 3 of the Indian Wells Masters, Novak Djokovic faced Luca Nardi and found himself with a difficult challenge. The 20-year-old Italian, who idolizes the 24-time grand slam champion, played toe-to-toe against him. He would go on to beat him in three sets, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, ending the clash with an unreturnable serve.

Patrick McEnroe could not believe his eyes as he saw the Serbinator exit from the tournament against the Italian youngster. He shared his reaction on social media as he wrote, “Wow….Novak is beaten by 20-year-old Luca Nardi @BNPPARIBASOPEN Shocker“. His win is made more astounding by the fact that Nardi lost round 2 of the qualifying bouts and managed to snag a wild card in the BNP Paribas Open. 

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He won an insurmountable challenge and will go back to rest with a big smile on his face. His reaction after his win also showed his satisfaction with himself as beating Djokovic is certainly not an easy feat. The clash was highly entertaining due to the great display of tennis and the drama that ensued in the second set.

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“He confused me completely” – Djokovic battles with the umpire

Djokovic served for a game in the second set where Nardi had the advantage. Djokovic served around the middle line of the box, and Nardi returned the ball with a drop shot, with lax body language. Djokovic went up to return with another drop shot on Nardi’s forehand, who ran up and returned brilliantly. However, Djokovic had paused in his tracks, seeming perplexed.

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The conversation with the chair umpire followed, “He stopped”, and the chair umpire replied, “Just because he stopped doesn’t mean the point stops”. Djokovic rebuffed, “What are you talking about? He literally stopped and that’s it. He confused me completely. I stopped as well. How can you not make that judgement? Are you kidding me or what?

The set would be won by Djokovic, but glory would be taken by Nardi, who ousted the Djoker on his Indian Wells comeback stint.

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Read More: 20YO Luca Nardi Nearly Breaks Down After Humbling Idol Novak Djokovic on an Emotional Indian Wells Night

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Ripunjay Gaba

1,821 Articles

Ripunjay Gaba, a tennis enthusiast-turned-journalist at EssentiallySports, found his way from freelance sports journalism to the publishing house in ES. Here, his writing canvas encompasses the game specifics while finding poetic resonance in covering major sporting events. Ripunjay, a perpetual upgrader, uses avid reading to bring varied flavor to his Tennis reporting. From the Netflix Documentary Break Point to the various Tennis podcasts, his coverage stays diverse. Beyond the world of articles, he extends this commitment to physical well-being with regular workouts, infusing dynamism into both the narratives he crafts and the life he lives. In Ripunjay's world, every keystroke is a step closer to unraveling the essence of tennis.

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Ananya Giri

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