(Reuters) – Philipp Kohlschreiber stunned Novak Djokovic 6-4 6-4 in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday, sending the world number one tumbling out of a tournament he had won five times.
The German punched the air in celebration after a video review confirmed that his forehand winner caught the line on match point to seal the upset victory in Indian Wells.
The top-seeded Serb, who had not dropped a set in four matches since the round of 16 at the Australian Open in January, looked out-of-sorts throughout the 98-minute contest.
He committed 27 unforced errors, converted just one of his five break point opportunities and destroyed his racket at one point when frustration boiled over on a sunny day in the Southern California desert.
His sloppy play did not diminish the 35-year-old Kohlschreiber’s joy at defeating a number one ranked player for the first time in his long career, however.
“It’s a very special moment. Of course, playing the top guys is always a big pleasure, but most of the time they beat you,” Kohlschreiber said in an on-court interview.
“Today, with Novak being number one, top-seeded here, it’s a very incredible win for me.”
Djokovic tipped his cap to the veteran after the match.
“He’s been around for so many years and he doesn’t really get overwhelmed by the occasion of playing on center court,” he told reporters. “He’s proven he can win against top guys.”
Kohlschreiber will not have long to celebrate, however, as the overnight interruption of his match against Djokovic for rain means he will be back on court for a fourth-round meeting with France’s Gael Monfils on Wednesday.
Djokovic’s loss came on the same day that women’s world number one Naomi Osaka saw her title defense hopes dashed, falling 6-3 6-1 to Belinda Bencic.
In another upset earlier, Pole Hubert Hurkacz fired 10 aces en route to a 4-6 6-4 6-3 win over world number seven Kei Nishikori of Japan to reach the fourth round.
The 67th-ranked Hurkacz needed just over two hours to complete the comeback win over the 2014 U.S. Open finalist.