Match Reaction
Djokovic following Draper defeat: ‘I have a bitter feeling’
Serbian lost to Draper in a third-set tie-break
March 12, 2026
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Novak Djokovic is a five-time champion in Indian Wells.
By Sam Jacot
Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper produced one of the matches of the season on Wednesday night at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, where the defending champion Draper earned a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory.
Afterward, Djokovic gave an honest assessment of the brutal two-hour, 37-minute clash.
“[I have] a bitter feeling right now, losing a match like this,” Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. “But proud of myself for fighting and really giving it all on the court. That’s for sure.
“That’s the one thing that I’ll take as a highlight. Just the fact of not giving up and trying. I lost to a great player, and it was really such an even match throughout the entire two-and-a-half hours. But I am just a bit disappointed.”
One of the highlights of the fourth-round clash came at the start of the third set. The former No. 1 player in the PIF ATP Rankings Djokovic won a lung-busting 26-shot rally, which featured a number of drop shots and world-class lobs. Djokovic ended the point on his back and breathing heavily.
Despite winning the point, Djokovic feels it cost him in the immediate aftermath, with Draper going on to break the 38-year-old’s serve two games later.
“It cost me a break after. It was great winning that point in that game, but I just ran completely out of gas and just started to feel a bit better towards the end of the third,” Djokovic said.
“He played a sloppy game to close it out 5-4, and I got the crowd backing me and I felt the energy. It was, like, ‘Maybe I’m going to take this one’. It was so close, so close. Just unfortunate few mistakes from my side.”
Djokovic and Draper are locked at 1-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series. Draper is competing in just his second tournament back following a long-term left arm injury, but Djokovic was impressed with the defending champion’s level.
“I don’t think there is any major difference in his level from what he has shown pre-injury,” Djokovic said. “He’s been playing at a great level. I have watched him a little bit, had some highlights in Dubai, where he has played a few matches.
“And here, obviously defending champion, he really likes the conditions, suiting his game, and you could see that. I mean, he’s playing really well. He is confident and he was always confident and physically very fit. Just overall a great player, great guy. I wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament.”
Djokovic, a five-time champion in Indian Wells, is 8-2 on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.
