Djokovic loses after controversial doubles call at Indian Wells, followed by unusually cool post-match handshake

Under the lights in the California desert, emotions erupted on the court at the BNP Paribas Open. Even in doubles, dramatic scenes seem to always "follow" Novak Djokovic. This time, the 24-time Grand Slam champion was deeply displeased, believing his opponents employed unfair tactics during a point.

In the second round of doubles at Indian Wells, the pairing of Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas faced the French-Monaco duo of Lindknecth and Vacherot, leading to a heated dispute. The controversy occurred early in the first set at 2-2. As Tsitsipas prepared a passing shot during a fast net exchange, Lindknecth, positioned at the baseline, suddenly made an exaggerated swinging motion as if to intercept, though the ball was still far from him.

This unexpected movement caught Tsitsipas's peripheral vision and disrupted his rhythm. His return went wide, and the umpire initially awarded the point to Lindknecth and Vacherot. Djokovic immediately stopped, turned to the chair umpire, pointed at the French player, and challenged the action. Djokovic and Lindknecth then each presented their arguments while the umpire reviewed the situation.

According to ATP rules, any deliberate movement or sound intended to distract an opponent can be ruled as interference. The chair umpire initiated video review, examining slow-motion footage from multiple angles before announcing, "Ladies and gentlemen, after video review confirmation, Mr. Lindknecth's swing constitutes interference. Therefore, the point is awarded to Djokovic/Tsitsipas."

This ruling overturned the initial decision, giving the point to Djokovic and Tsitsipas. Even during the review, a clear argument continued between Djokovic and Lindknecth, though the broadcast did not capture their dialogue clearly.

Did this tense moment alter the match outcome? Despite the shift in momentum, the controversial call ultimately did not decide the winner. Lindknecth and Vacherot regrouped, held their nerve on crucial points, and narrowly defeated the star duo 7-6(4), 7-5, eliminating Djokovic and Tsitsipas from the doubles competition.

Even after the match ended, the tension lingered. The net handshake was brief; Djokovic only nodded politely to Vacherot, while his interaction with Lindknecth was notably restrained. Post-match, the French player excitedly applauded the crowd, smiling broadly as he celebrated the upset victory.

The dramatic doubles upset at the BNP Paribas Open concluded with a lighthearted joke. After eliminating the tournament's star pairing, Lindknecth couldn't resist teasing, joking that his team finally managed to "stand tall" against Djokovic.

The French-Monaco cousins displayed strong mental fortitude throughout the 1-hour 42-minute battle. Trailing 5-6 in the first set on their serve, they saved three set points and clinched the set in a tiebreak. In the second set, down 3-5, they won four consecutive games to turn the tide and secure the match. Official stats show the pair fired 11 aces and saved 4 out of 5 break points faced, proving their resilience on key points. After the win, Lindknecth's humorous remark quickly gained attention.

"He (Vacherot) had already beaten Djokovic once in singles before," Lindknecth said of his partner. "Now he's 2-0 against Djokovic, and I'm 1-0. You know, not many players can say they have a perfect record against Djokovic. It's quite amusing."

Vacherot had previously upset Djokovic during his Shanghai Masters title run. Now, the cousins can boast a perfect record against the Serbian legend. For them, this journey is about enjoyment, not pressure. "We're playing happily now, not overthinking on big points," Vacherot said. "We go for our shots, and it works well. We're in good form, and as Alban said, we're having fun. Playing doubles at a top-tier event like this, we'll give our all."

Lindknecth echoed the sentiment: "It feels great. This partnership has been wonderful, and winning makes it even better. We just enjoy each day here. It's a great tournament, a high-level event, and the more significant the wins, the better it feels."

On the other side, after his doubles campaign ended, Djokovic will fully focus on the singles event in the California desert. The five-time tournament champion will face defending champion Draper in the quarterfinals. This will be their second ATP Tour meeting; Djokovic previously defeated Draper at Wimbledon. However, Draper has improved significantly since then and enters this match with full confidence.

"I'm working daily to adjust physically and mentally, striving to reach my best form for matches," Djokovic said. "Of course, the challenge and obstacle are across the net. The matches will only get tougher... Next is Draper, the defending champion, playing well, but I enjoy the challenge."

Draper, meanwhile, holds great respect for the Serbian superstar. To the British player, Djokovic represents the "ultimate challenge"; he even called Djokovic the greatest ever and expressed anticipation for the match. Currently, Djokovic leads Draper 1-0, but the Serbian has faced stern tests at this event already. Do you think he can secure another win at Indian Wells and extend his lead over Draper?Source: Tennis Home, Author: Spark