Luca Nardi, the Italian who entered Indian Wells through the window, provided the big surprise against Novak Djokovic

The week (and why not, life) hasn’t stopped smiling lately Luca Nardi. The Italian tennis player, just twenty years old, is alive days dreamed of and certainly unthinkable in Indian Wells. It’s just that it went from access as lucky loser at that tournament 1000 Mastersone of the most important within the ATP circuit, he beat none other than the Serbian Novak Djokovicthe number one in the world and his absolute idol.

Nardi, 123rd in the ATP rankings, had not been active on the major circuit this year. He had only participated without much success in some qualifications and minor competitions. His luck did not change in qualifying for the tournament held in the Californian desert, where he lost to Belgian expert David Goffin.

However, from that moment on, luck for him took a 180 degree turnbecause the injury of the Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry made him a “lucky loser” not only in the main draw, but directly in the second round, because the player from La Plata was pre-ranked.

Thus, the victory against the Chinese Zhang Zhizhen 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 on his Indian Wells debut left him on the brink of an unimaginable duel against Djokovicthe tennis player who he had on a poster in his home in Pesaro.

With nothing to lose and a lot to gain, Nardi went to play this Monday evening against the Serbian, five-time champion of the tournament. And not only did he measure up, but he got results an impressive 6-4, 2-6 and 6-4 victory. It was only the fourth success for the Italian on the ATP circuit, but it will certainly be one of the most important of his career.