Djokovic thrilled to return to Indian Wells after five year hiatus

by Pooja Chauhan · 28/02/2024

Djokovic thrilled to return to Indian Wells after five year hiatus

Bollywoodfever, February 28: Novak Djokovic expressed his enthusiasm on Tuesday about returning to compete at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells for the first time since 2019, following a hiatus due to COVID-19-related U.S. travel restrictions.

As the current world number one, Djokovic is aiming for a record-breaking sixth victory at the Masters 1000 event, widely considered the most prestigious tennis tournament outside the four Grand Slams.

Djokovic thrilled to return to Indian Wells after five year hiatus

“After a five-year absence, it feels excessively long to have missed out on what I consider one of the premier events worldwide,” Djokovic remarked in a video message from the scenic desert locale of Southern California.

“This event, often referred to as Tennis Paradise, is a favorite among many players, myself included. I’m eagerly anticipating the opportunity to play again before some of the most passionate fans on the circuit.”

Djokovic, who secured his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in 2008, also recalled his initial triumph at Indian Wells, which he described as a significant milestone in his career.

Winning Indian Wells for the first time was a momentous occasion for me, particularly memorable was my final against Mardy Fish,” he reflected.

Djokovic has won the Indian Wells title four additional times since then, highlighting memorable final matches against tennis legends like Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal. He expressed his excitement about making a return to the tournament.

Rafael Nadal, a three-time winner at Indian Wells, is also expected to participate in the event after sitting out this year’s Australian Open due to injury.

The 2020 BNP Paribas Open was cancelled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and Djokovic was unable to attend the subsequent three editions due to U.S. entry restrictions on unvaccinated foreign nationals.