In the commencement of his 2024 Indian Wells campaign, Novak Djokovic achieved another milestone by securing his 400th victory at the Masters 1000 level during a second-round match against Aleksandar Vukic. This marked a significant accomplishment for World No. 1, who expressed his appreciation for the Indian Wells tournament upon his return to California, where he is a five-time champion, sharing the record with Roger Federer.
Djokovic faced a formidable challenge in his initial match against Vukic, who, despite being 21 spots below his previous highest ranking, matched the Serb from the baseline. After dropping the second set, Djokovic admitted feeling “worried.” Fortunately, he managed to avoid any further complications in the third set, securing the victory.
This milestone makes Djokovic only the second player to reach 400 wins at the Masters 1000 level, following his longtime rival Rafael Nadal, who has 406 victories. Nadal, unfortunately, had to withdraw from the tournament before his first-round match, providing Djokovic with an opportunity to potentially surpass him in match wins in Indian Wells and continue his pursuit in Miami, where Nadal will not be competing.
While Nadal holds the record for the most wins at the Masters 1000 level, Djokovic boasts the most titles in this category with 40. Despite a relatively modest start to the season by his standards, Djokovic remains the favored contender in Indian Wells, aiming for his 401st win. However, stiff competition from in-form players like Jannik Sinner, Daniil Medvedev, and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz may pose challenges on Djokovic’s path. His upcoming third-round match against Italian lucky loser Luca Nardi presents an opportunity for him to further build on his Masters 1000 level victories.
