Novak Djokovic expressed admiration for Aleksandar Kovacevic‘s serve following their match at the Indian Wells tournament, where Djokovic prevailed 6-4, 1-6, 6-4 in the round of 32. This victory secured Djokovic’s advancement to the round of 16, setting up a confrontation with British number one Jack Draper, the defending champion at Indian Wells. Djokovic is aiming to claim a record sixth title at this event, while Kovacevic showcased notable skill despite the defeat.
Djokovic highlighted Kovacevic’s Serbian roots and their personal rapport, stating,
“Yeah, there’s not many of us. It’s nice to see Aleks, who I really like as a person, who I get along with very well, that he has the Serbian background, his entire family.”
He also noted their limited on-court encounters before this match, recalling they might have played only once previously on clay.
Regarding Kovacevic’s play, Djokovic emphasized the quality of his ball striking and particularly his serving.
“I watched a little bit of the highlights of his matches in this tournament, and I thought he just felt the ball very well. I mean, he was striking the ball great,”
Djokovic said. He was struck by Kovacevic’s ability to serve effectively despite not being unusually tall, praising the precision and placement of his serves.
Djokovic admitted challenges in returning serve during the match:
“I mean, I wasn’t maybe feeling my rhythm on that return very well today, but he was just making my life very difficult, returning the serve. He was just acing me all over, getting a lot of free points. Couldn’t really serve at all. That’s what I told him at the net. He had a tremendous serving display today. He’s on the right path.”
He also praised Kovacevic’s style and improvements:
“I always, you know, like the way he plays. One-handed backhand, it’s so rare nowadays. He’s very talented. He’s a great ball-striking player.”
Djokovic pointed out Kovacevic’s previous lack of consistency and high unforced error count, but sees progress driven by his coaching team, which includes experience working with top players such as Frances Tiafoe.
“Seems like whatever they are doing is working. You know, he’s serving great and he’s playing really well.”
Regarding the closeness of the match, Djokovic reflected,
I mean, that last game of the third where he missed some first serves, gave me looks on the second, and I used it. That’s pretty much it. Yeah, it was very unpredictable who was going to win until the end.
Kovacevic’s 16 Aces Highlight a Strong Effort Despite Defeat
Though Djokovic claimed victory after two hours and two minutes on court, Kovacevic’s performance left an impression due to his exceptional serving, delivering 16 aces while only committing one double fault. This powerful serving undoubtedly made the contest challenging for Djokovic, who extended his career head-to-head record against the American to 2-0.
Looking ahead, Djokovic is preparing to face Jack Draper in the next round, a player he previously defeated in their 2021 Wimbledon matchup. Draper has already recorded wins against Roberto Bautista Agut and Francisco Cerundolo during the current tournament.
Kovacevic’s path to the round of 32 was marked by significant wins over Hubert Hurkacz and Corentin Moutet, demonstrating his rising capabilities on the ATP tour. Despite falling short against Djokovic, Kovacevic’s showing earned him the respect of the Serbian veteran.
Djokovic shared a message of encouragement on social media after their encounter, posting a photo of their embrace at the net accompanied by,
Aleks, excellent match today, bro! Great fight. Keep it up, good luck in the rest!
Implications for Kovacevic and the Tournament’s Next Phase
Kovacevic’s skillful serve and solid tennis throughout Indian Wells suggest a promising future as he continues to develop and gain consistency. Djokovic’s recognition of his progress underscores the potential for Kovacevic to emerge more prominently on the ATP circuit, particularly if he maintains his current trajectory under a proven coaching setup.
For Djokovic, the win maintains his momentum in pursuit of a record sixth Indian Wells title, as he prepares to meet Draper, a strong contender and the current defending champion. Their upcoming match will be a key test in the later stages of this prestigious tournament, which remains a focal point in the professional tennis calendar.
Aleks, odličan meč danas,brate! Sjajna borba. Nastavi dalje, puno sreće u nastavku pic.twitter.com/pRyfIhiwS2
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) March 10, 2026
