Indian Wells, March 12 – Twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion, Novak Djokovic, described his fourth-round exit at the 2026 Indian Wells Masters as "a tough night in the desert." The Serbian's campaign ended after he suffered a surprising defeat against Britain's Jack Draper on Thursday.
Draper won the match in a gripping contest lasting over two and a half hours, securing a victory in a deciding tiebreak with a score of 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (5), defeating Djokovic for the first time in his career.
After the loss, Djokovic congratulated Jack Draper on his great win. He also thanked the fans who supported him throughout the tournament. "A tough night in the desert. Respect to @jackdraper0 You deserve it. Great to see you back on the court, playing well. Keep it up," Djokovic wrote on X.
"And to everyone who supported me here this week, thank you for the energy. There's no place like tennis paradise. See you soon," he added.
Djokovic had earlier praised Draper for his great comeback from injury in the post-match conference.
“I don't think there's any major difference in his level from what he has shown before his injury. He has been playing at a great level. I have watched him a little bit, seen some highlights in Dubai, where he has played a few matches,” The Serbian said after the match.
“And here, obviously the defending champion, he really likes the conditions, which suit his game, and you could see that. He's playing really well. He's confident, and he always has been, and he's physically very fit. Overall, he's a great player, a great guy. I wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament,” he added.
Draper, who is currently on a nine-match winning streak in the California desert, will face two-time finalist Daniil Medvedev in the quarterfinal. Meanwhile, after his exit from Indian Wells, Djokovic is likely to participate in the Miami Open, which will be held in late March.
