Novak Djokovic may face Nick Kyrgios in Indian Wells R2!

Novak Djokovic will search his first Indian Wells crown since 2016! The five-time champion must current his A-game proper from the beginning of his desert marketing campaign, with a possible R2 conflict with Nick Kyrgios!

Djokovic and Kyrgios shared the courtroom in Brisbane within the first week of the season, though on the identical facet of the courtroom. If Nick handed a qualifier within the first spherical, the 2 nice mates will embrace their fourth singles duel, the primary in practically three years.

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) December 30, 2024

Kyrgios ousted Djokovic two instances inside a few weeks in 2017 in Acapulco and Indian Wells. The Aussie served properly and outplayed the Serb within the pivotal moments to notch two notable victories. They didn’t like one another again then, to say at the least, however the issues improved within the subsequent couple of years. 

Their third duel got here within the 2022 Wimbledon remaining, with two rivals exhibiting mutual respect and promising to play within the doubles. Novak defeated Nick in 4 units to elevate his seventh Wimbledon crown. It stays their most up-to-date duel, with the Aussie battling numerous accidents during the last couple of years. 

Nick Kyrgios & Novak Djokovic, Wimbledon 2022© Stream screenshot

 

Kyrgios has performed solely three matches since October 2022, together with two in the beginning of 2025. He skilled extra points throughout Brisbane and the Australian Open and took a few weeks off the courtroom. Nick hopes to compete injury-free in Indian Wells and trigger a few upsets. 

If he passes a qualifier within the first spherical, we’ll see him battling towards the 24-time Main winner. It is arduous to think about the larger motivation for the Aussie, particularly if he plans to increase his tennis journey and goal the top-20 return.

Novak Djokovic & Nick Kyrgios, Brisbane 2025© Stream screenshot

 

Djokovic will play his fourth event of the season in Indian Wells. He fell to Reilly Opelka in Brisbane earlier than experiencing a hamstring harm in Melbourne. Novak retired within the semi-final towards Alexander Zverev and recovered for the ATP 500 occasion in Doha. 

The legend fell to Matteo Berrettini within the first spherical, and he actually needs to embrace a a lot deeper run at one in every of his favourite tournaments. In the event that they each current their A-game, we should always see one other thriller from Novak and Nick, the primary in years!