New Delhi, March 10: Novak Djokovic secured his spot in the fourth round of the Indian Wells Open by defeating American player Alexander Kovacevic with a score of 6-4, 1-6, 6-4. Despite facing a tough challenge from Kovacevic, the former world number one showcased his composure under pressure.
This week marked Djokovic’s second consecutive match requiring him to battle through three sets. He had previously started the tournament with a hard-fought victory against Kamil Majchrzak.
By reaching the pre-quarterfinals for the 113th time in Masters 1000 tournaments, Djokovic surpassed Rafael Nadal, claiming the top position on this list. This is his first appearance in the fourth round at Indian Wells since 2017, where he will face the reigning champion, Jack Draper.
In this match, Kovacevic managed to hit 16 aces against the Serbian giant but ultimately fell short in the final game, failing to save his serve.
Djokovic praised Kovacevic, stating, “A lot of credit goes to Alex. He played at a very high level. His serve was tremendous. I’ve only faced him once before, and I don’t think we’ve ever met on hard courts. For a player of his height, serving so well and placing the ball accurately is truly exceptional, so he deserves a lot of credit.”
Meanwhile, Cameron Norrie also advanced to the fourth round of the Indian Wells Open for the fourth time. He defeated Alex de Minaur 6-4, 6-4, marking his 13th career win against a top-10 player, with this being his second such victory in California.
The British left-hander improved his record against the world number 6, De Minaur, to 3-2. In the next round, he will face either Alexander Bublik or Rinky Hijikata.
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