Novak Djokovic Vomits Mid-Match During Tense Indian Wells Clash

World No.3 Novak Djokovic is bidding to win his sixth title at the Indian Wells Masters.

Novak Djokovic Vomits Mid-Match During Tense Indian Wells Clash

Novak Djokovic threw up mid-match (Image via X/Tiempo De Tenis, Jose Moron)

In Short
  • Novak Djokovic vomited during his match against Kamil Majchrzak at Indian Wells but won the match 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
  • This victory marked Djokovic's first advancement to the third round at Indian Wells since 2024.
  • Djokovic cited the challenging winds at Indian Wells as a significant factor affecting his performance.

Novak Djokovic survived a scare in his Indian Wells opener. Up against him on Saturday (March 7) was Kamil Majchrzak, who took the first set off the Serb before losing with a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 scoreline.

Indian Wells is not a happy hunting ground for Nole, as since winning his last title here in 2016 by defeating Milos Raonic, he has made the round of 16 just once. In the third game of the third set against Majchrzak, Djokovic, following a point after over a 40-shot grueling rally, went out of everyone’s sight to throw up.

Watch the video here:

It [has] been very challenging lately for me in Indian Wells. It has been hard for me to find my A-game, particularly in the beginning of the tournament in the past seven or eight years. I am glad to overcome a challenge.

Novak Djokovic said during the on-court interview

Djokovic has made the third round of Indian Wells for the first time since 2024, as last year, he fell to Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp in the opener. Despite his struggles in the California desert, the 24-time Grand Slam champion holds the record for most titles alongside Roger Federer, with both winning five titles each.

Kamil is a very solid player. He doesn’t have tremendous power, but he has every shot in the book, and he was not afraid to come in and take the ball early. He played a great first set. I reset and started to feel better, and the crowd was amazing.

Novak Djokovic added

It was Djokovic’s career’s first match against the 30-year-old Pole. It was also Djokovic’s first match since his defeat to World No.1 Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the Australian Open. Before this year’s Melbourne event, the last time Djokovic reached a Grand Slam final was at the 2024 Wimbledon. The 38-year-old is 7-1 this season.

Novak Djokovic is not a fan of the wind at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic, since making his Indian Wells debut in 2006, had skipped the tournament for the first time in 2021 and remained absent in the next two seasons as well before returning in 2024. The toughest thing that he faces at Indian Wells is the wind, which he also battled during his opening round match against Kamil Majchrzak.

Novak Djokovic (3)
Novak Djokovic (Image via X/AllAboutHQ)

I find that the wind here is one of the toughest on Tour. With the gusts coming in and out, changing direction, it is so, so difficult. Particularly from one end of the court, and it puts extra tension.

Novak Djokovic said during his on-court interview

The only time he has made the final in either of the two Sunshine Doubles since the 2016 Miami Open was in last year’s event in Miami, where Jakub Mensik denied him his 41st Masters 1000 title. It was also the last time he made a final at this level, with his last title coming at the 2023 Paris Masters, and since then, he has played two Masters 1000 finals: in last year’s Miami Open and in the 2024 Shanghai Masters, which he lost to World No.2 Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic, who has now become the second-oldest man to reach the third round of the first Masters 1000 of the season, will next be locking horns with Aleksandar Kovacevic, who knocked out Corentin Moutet in the previous round. The 101 singles titlist holds a 1-0 head-to-head record over the American, beating him in the first round of the 2023 Roland Garros.

The last time Djokovic won a title was at the 2025 Hellenic Championship by defeating Lorenzo Musetti. Last year, apart from the Athens ATP 250 title, Djokovic also clinched the Geneva Open.

Also read: Jannik Sinner Reveals Changes in his Training After Losing in Doha