World No.1 Novak Djokovic will return to the Indian Wells Masters 1000 where, for his return to competition after an elbow surgery a year ago, he had dropped from entry when he would not have had to come back so early in competition.
The Serb suffered a shock defeat by world number 109 Taro Daniel of Japan as he was knocked out of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells.
The 30-year-old lost 7-6 (7-3) 4-6 6-1 in the second-round tie on his first appearance since an injury ended his Australian Open challenge in January last year.
The defeat was just the fifth time in the past decade former world number one Djokovic has lost against a player outside the top 100 players in the world.
“I was not ready to play in a tournament of this level a year ago. I was trying to convince myself that I was ready, but I really was not.” Djokovic said.
“Most of my entourage was against my participation in this tournament and in Miami, because it was too soon after the operation.
“I could have, I should have made another decision, but I also believe that it gave me valuable lessons that then allowed me to achieve incredible results in the months that followed,” Djokovic added.
Novak Djokovic loses to Taro Daniel at the 2018 Indian Wells. (Source:www.dailyexpress.co.uk)
At the 2018 tournament in California, Djokovic was 22nd in the world and finished the year in first place in the world after winning Wimbledon and the US Open, as well as the 1000 Masters in Cincinnati and Shanghai.
He confirmed at the beginning of the year by winning the Australian Open, but he has not appeared in competition since his coronation in Melbourne.
For his entry, he will be against the American Bjorn Fratangelo, 128th in the world rankings. Djokovic could then face Australian Nick Kyrgios, who has just won the Acapulco tournament by beating three players in the world top 10, including the Spaniard Rafael Nadal.
“I would like to play against Kyrgios, because he is in shape. For my part, I started very well my season, I hope to resume where I was in Australia.” Djokovic said.
