Indian Wells
Djokovic ends 9-year Indian Wells wait with latest three-set win
Third seed downs Kovacevic to set meeting with defending champ Draper
March 09, 2026
Matthew Stockman/Getty Images
Novak Djokovic is into the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2017.
By Jerome Coombe
Novak Djokovic may have endured his share of recent struggles at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, but the five-time champion took another step forward on Monday with a resilient victory.
The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings fought past American Aleksandar Kovacevic 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 to book his place in the fourth round of the ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time since 2017. It is the second consecutive match this week in which Djokovic has need three sets, having battled through a tough opener against Kamil Majchrzak to begin his campaign.
Tuff W! 😤@DjokerNole outlasts a tough opponent in Kovacevic, securing his spot in the fourth round for the first time since 2017. @BNPPARIBASOPEN | #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/Hj8fpoLAla
— ATP Tour (@atptour) March 9, 2026
“It was a great performance from Aleks. We know each other. We speak the same language. His whole family is Serbian,” said Djokovic. “It’s great to see him doing well. He’s played a great tournament so far. I knew coming into the match that if he serves well and picks his spots, it was going to be hard to break him. That’s what happened, actually.”
Although Djokovic is a five-time champion in Indian Wells — tied with Roger Federer for the most titles in tournament history — the 38-year-old has acknowledged that he has struggled to rediscover his best level in the California desert in recent seasons. Last year he suffered a shock opening-round defeat to Botic van de Zandschulp, and on Saturday he was forced to dig deep while dealing with physical discomfort in his win against Majchrzak.
Djokovic, however, has continued to navigate tough tests during his 17th appearance at the event. The Serbian will next face defending champion Jack Draper after the Briton moved past Francisco Cerundolo 6-1, 7-5.
“I’m not really enjoying myself at all times, to be honest,” Djokovic said when asked about the demands of the match against Kovacevic. “You’re trying to thrive in these kinds of conditions where you’re facing an opponent playing lights-out tennis… But winning ugly, right? That’s what counts. I’m glad to be able to overcome the challenge today.”
Kovacevic, who first met his idol Djokovic at Flushing Meadows in 2005, pushed the 24-time major champion throughout the contest. The American finished the opening set strongly, winning 13 consecutive points on serve, before levelling the match with an inspired second-set performance that capitalised on a mid-match dip from Djokovic.
In the deciding set, Djokovic steadied himself and began to find his range in the desert conditions, despite clutching his ankle after an extended point in the third game. Djokovic has now emerged victorious in 34 of his past 35 matches after winning the opening set, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index, with the only defeat in that span coming against World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final in January.
With the victory, Djokovic became the second-oldest player to reach the fourth round of an ATP Masters 1000 event since the series began in 1990, behind only Ivo Karlovic, who achieved the feat in Indian Wells in 2019 at the age of 40.
