Novak Djokovic advanced to the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open, at The Serbian, third seed and five-time champion of the tournament, needed two hours and two minutes to overcome his opponent in the round of 32. The match took place at Stadium 1, starting at around 7pm local time at Califórnia.
Djokovic started solid in the first set and closed at 6-4 after breaking his opponent’s serve. Kovacevic reacted in the second set and dominated with an impressive 6-1. In the decisive set, the Serb regained control and confirmed the victory with 6-4.
Djokovic’s recent tournament performance
The Serb was coming off a three-set victory in his debut against Kamil Majchrzak. Ele lost the first set in that opening match but recovered to advance. Djokovic seeks a sixth title in Indian Wells and equals Roger Federer’s record with six wins.
Djokovic showed resilience throughout the week. Ele handled challenging conditions in the desert of Califórnia and stayed focused on the decisive points.
Kovacevic impresses before defeat
Aleksandar Kovacevic reached the third round after convincing victories. Ele overcame Hubert Hurkacz in the debut in two tiebreaks and then defeated Corentin Moutet in straight sets. The American demonstrated a good level of serve and return against elite players.
Kovacevic pressed Djokovic aggressively. Ele exploited flaws in the second set and forced the Serb to increase his performance. The campaign represents a milestone for the 72nd ranked player.
Match details and key statistics
Djokovic made unforced errors in the second set but adjusted his strategy in the third. Ele won important points on serve and net. Kovacevic maintained a high percentage of first serves but suffered breaks in crucial moments.
The Serb converted decisive breaks in the first and third sets. The match lasted two hours and two minutes. Djokovic has seven wins this season so far.
Other highlights from the round of 32
Cameron Norrie surprised by defeating Alex from Minaur by 6-4 and 6-4. The British champion in 2021 advanced solidly on serve. Taylor Fritz confirmed favoritism and beat Alex Michelsen in straight sets.
Other results included wins for Jannik Sinner over Denis Shapovalov and Alexander Zverev over Brandon Nakashima. Learner Tien eliminated Ben Shelton in a close match.
Next steps for Djokovic in the tournament
Djokovic now faces an opponent defined by the bracket in the next round. Ele seeks consistent pace to compete in advanced stages. The tournament continues with decisive games in the next few days at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
The Serb highlighted the importance of maintaining confidence after Australian Open. Ele competes for the first time since the final in Melbourne.
