In jargon they call it an upset, and it is certainly one of the most sensational in recent years in the history of tennis.
Luca Nardi, Italian born in 2003, number 123 in the world, defeated number 1 Novak Djokovic in the round of 32 of the Master 1000 in Indian Wells , also known as the "fifth Slam" due to its great importance.
The Italian, one of the many on the launching pad and perhaps the most talented among the very young Italians who are starting to make their way on the ATP circuit, won with a score of 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, reaching the round of 16, where he will find the American Tommy Paul . With this victory he has already entered the top 100 in the world.
And to think that Nole is his idol and he has a poster of him in his room: «I think that before tonight no one knew me. I hope the audience enjoyed the show. I'm super happy with this match. In the end I don't know how I managed to hold on. I think it was a miracle, because I'm a 20-year-old boy, outside the top hundred in the world, who managed to beat Novak. It's crazy ,” is his comment.
The twenty-year-old from Pesaro has set a record: he is the player with the lowest ranking to have defeated Nole in a Slam or a 1000. Breaking the record of Kevin Anderson, who defeated him in Miami as number 122.
Also in the round of 16 is Jannik Sinner, who passed the first two rounds with great ease and met the American Ben Shelton again during the night . Nothing to do for Lorenzo Musetti, defeated 6-2, 7-6 by the Dane Holger Rune .
(Unioneonline/L)
