Luca Nardi Returns to Indian Wells as “The Guy Who Beat Novak Djokovic”
Luca Nardi may not yet be a household name on the ATP Tour, but at Indian Wells, the young Italian enjoys a unique level of recognition. His claim to fame? A stunning victory over 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic at last year’s tournament—one of the biggest upsets in recent ATP Masters history.
Nardi, then ranked No. 123 in the world, shocked the tennis world when he defeated Djokovic in the third round of the 2024 BNP Paribas Open. The three-set triumph made him the lowest-ranked player ever to beat the Serbian legend in either a Masters 1000 or Grand Slam event. The victory cemented his place in Indian Wells history, and while he may not be the most well-known player on the tour, his name carries weight in the California desert.
A Special Return to the Scene of His Greatest Triumph
Now ranked No. 67, the 21-year-old Italian is back at Indian Wells for the 2025 edition of the tournament, where he will face British No. 1 Cameron Norrie in the opening round. Speaking ahead of his first match, Nardi reflected on the emotions he felt upon returning to the tournament that changed his career.
“As soon as I arrived, I started to feel very good emotions,” Nardi shared. “It’s a very, very nice feeling to come back here. Usually, I’m not Luca Nardi. I’m the guy who beat Novak Djokovic. Maybe they don’t know my name, but I’m the guy who beat Djokovic.”
His self-aware yet lighthearted remark highlights the impact of his unexpected triumph. Despite having a relatively low profile in the wider tennis world, Nardi is well-known in Indian Wells, where his victory over Djokovic remains a topic of conversation among fans and tournament organizers alike.
A Promising Start to the 2025 Season
Nardi’s breakthrough win at Indian Wells last year helped boost his confidence, and he has carried that momentum into the 2025 season with a string of solid performances. He reached the round of 16 at both the ASB Classic and the Qatar Open, showing glimpses of his potential.
More recently, he enjoyed a strong run at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, where he made it to the quarterfinals before falling to Frenchman Quentin Halys in three sets. The performance in Dubai marked his best ATP 500 result to date, and it reinforced his ability to compete at a high level against established tour players.
As he prepares to face Norrie in the first round of Indian Wells, Nardi will look to build on his recent form and perhaps create more magic in the California desert. Though his victory over Djokovic was historic, he knows that continued success is the only way to solidify his status as a rising force in men’s tennis.
Can Nardi Make Another Deep Run?
With a strong start to the season and good memories from last year, Nardi enters this year’s Indian Wells tournament with renewed confidence. His aggressive baseline game and fearless shot-making make him a dangerous opponent, especially on the slow hard courts of Indian Wells, which tend to favor players who construct points with patience and precision.
However, his first-round opponent, Cameron Norrie, is no stranger to success in the desert. The British left-hander won the Indian Wells title in 2021 and has proven to be a formidable force on North American hard courts. If Nardi hopes to make another statement run at the tournament, he will need to bring his best tennis from the start.
Whether or not he can pull off another giant-killing performance remains to be seen. But one thing is certain—Luca Nardi has already left his mark on Indian Wells, and he is eager to prove that last year’s victory over Djokovic was just the beginning.