'Outrageous': Novak Djokovic wins 'the best point you're ever going to see' in loss at Indian Wells
Novak Djokovic won a rally at Indian Wells on Thursday (AEDT) described as "the best point you're ever going to see" — but the 24-time grand slam champion lost the match.
In losing his round-of-16 match at the prestigious Californian tournament, Djokovic missed an opportunity to become only the third man to reach the Indian Wells quarter-finals 10 times, behind Roger Federer (13) and Rafael Nadal (12).
Great Britain's Jack Draper eliminated Djokovic in a pulsating 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(5) victory and is now set to face Russian former world No.1 Daniil Medvedev in the quarter-finals.
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Novak Djokovic in disbelief after winning a remarkable 26-shot rally against Jack Draper at Indian Wells. Getty
Commentator and former British tennis professional Mark Petchey described one rally in the first game of the third set as the best ever.
A rally that lasted 26 shots and featured punishing forehands from the baselines, and lob shots, drop shots, a wild momentum swing and one net cord, ended with Djokovic, who turns 39 in May, flat on his back, exhausted but elated.
Fittingly, the crowd stood to applaud.
"You will never, ever see a better point played on a tennis court," Petchey said.
"That was just outrageous," added US tennis legend and commentary icon Jim Courier.
Novak Djokovic and Jack Draper embrace after the match. Getty
At the pointy end of the set, Djokovic broke Draper when the former world No.4 was serving for the match.
But Draper, 24, won the deciding-set tiebreak to advance to the round of eight and earn himself a $272,000 AUD payday.
He is working his way back from an arm injury that ended his 2025 season prematurely.
"For me to be on court again these last few weeks has been emotional for me, and I'm really grateful for it," Draper said.
"To come out here against Novak, for me the greatest tennis player there is, and someone I've been admiring and watching since I was a little kid, to do that, I'm just incredibly proud of myself."
