Sometimes it happens in sport that the outsider beats the great champion. It doesn't happen often. Above all, it doesn't happen often to Novak Djokovic. The sensational affair took place at the BNP Paribas Open.
Djokovic, one of the favorites for the final victory on the eve of the tournament, was surprisingly and sensationally eliminated in the 3rd round by the Italian Luca Nardi, who became the tennis player with the lowest ranking (He's No.123 – ed.) to beat the Serbian star in an ATP Masters 1000. Truly incredible.
Luca Nardi and Novak Djokovic© Matthew Stockman / Staff Getty Images Sport
Nole, at the press conference, congratulated Nardi, but recognized that he had expressed a level that did not live up to expectations.
"I want to congratulate him for playing fantastic tennis, especially in the third set. I didn't know him very well, but I saw him play and I knew that he had great quality tennis from the baseline, especially the forehand. He moves well and he has great talent. He entered the draw as a lucky loser, so he really had nothing to lose.
He played great and deserved the victory. I was more surprised by my level though. My level was terrible. He'll have a good day, I'll have a really bad day. It's a negative result for me. I…
