Botic van de Zandschulp pulled off a major upset at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, defeating five-time champion Novak Djokovic 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. The World No. 85 capitalized on Djokovic’s uncharacteristic errors in the first set and delivered outstanding shot-making in the third to claim victory in just over two hours. This marked Van de Zandschulp’s eighth career win over a Top 10 opponent and his first time securing back-to-back ATP Tour wins in 2025.
Reflecting on his performance, Van de Zandschulp emphasized the importance of maintaining composure, especially against elite players. Despite Djokovic regaining momentum in the second set, the Dutchman stayed resilient, breaking early in the decider and controlling the baseline rallies to level their head-to-head record at 1-1.
Djokovic, who was aiming to tie Rafael Nadal’s ATP Masters 1000 win record (410), struggled to sustain his level in the third set. The defeat marks his third consecutive loss in 2025, following setbacks against Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini.
In other results, Grigor Dimitrov eased past Nuno Borges 6-3, 6-4, saving seven of eight break points. Home favorite Ben Shelton also delivered a dominant 6-3, 6-2 win over Mariano Navone, winning 80% of his first-serve points and not facing a single break point. Shelton will next face Karen Khachanov, who defeated Jakub Mensik 3-6, 6-3, 6-0.
With a spot in the third round secured, Van de Zandschulp will now face Francisco Cerundolo as he looks to continue his strong run at Indian Wells.
