Match Response
Djokovic following Draper defeat: ‘I’ve a bitter feeling’
Serbian misplaced to Draper in a third-set tie-break
March 12, 2026
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Novak Djokovic is a five-time champion in Indian Wells.
By Sam Jacot
Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper produced one of many matches of the season on Wednesday evening on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the place the defending champion Draper earned a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory.
Afterward, Djokovic gave an trustworthy evaluation of the brutal two-hour, 37-minute conflict.
“[I have] a bitter feeling proper now, dropping a match like this,” Djokovic stated in his post-match press convention. “However happy with myself for preventing and actually giving all of it on the court docket. That is for positive.
“That is the one factor that I am going to take as a spotlight. Simply the very fact of not giving up and making an attempt. I misplaced to an excellent participant, and it was actually such a good match all through the complete two-and-a-half hours. However I’m only a bit upset.”
One of many highlights of the fourth-round conflict got here at first of the third set. The previous No. 1 participant within the PIF ATP Rankings Djokovic received a lung-busting 26-shot rally, which featured plenty of drop photographs and world-class lobs. Djokovic ended the purpose on his again and respiratory closely.
Regardless of successful the purpose, Djokovic feels it value him within the fast aftermath, with Draper happening to interrupt the 38-year-old’s serve two video games later.
“It value me a break after. It was nice successful that time in that recreation, however I simply ran fully out of gasoline and simply began to really feel a bit higher in the direction of the top of the third,” Djokovic stated.
“He performed a sloppy recreation to shut it out 5-4, and I obtained the gang backing me and I felt the vitality. It was, like, ‘Perhaps I’ll take this one’. It was so shut, so shut. Simply unlucky few errors from my aspect.”
Djokovic and Draper are locked at 1-1 of their Lexus ATP Head2Head sequence. Draper is competing in simply his second match again following a long-term left arm harm, however Djokovic was impressed with the defending champion’s stage.
“I do not assume there’s any main distinction in his stage from what he has proven pre-injury,” Djokovic stated. “He is been taking part in at an excellent stage. I’ve watched him just a little bit, had some highlights in Dubai, the place he has performed a couple of matches.
“And right here, clearly defending champion, he actually likes the situations, suiting his recreation, and you could possibly see that. I imply, he is taking part in very well. He’s assured and he was at all times assured and bodily very match. Simply general an excellent participant, nice man. I want him all the perfect for the remainder of the match.”
Djokovic, a five-time champion in Indian Wells, is 8-2 on the season, in response to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
