Djokovic suffers weird loss to qualifier at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic produced a puzzling performance as the former world number one lost to Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel in the second round at the BNP Paribas Open in California on Sunday. On his return from right elbow surgery, Djokovic looked a pale shadow of his former self as he went down 7-6(3) 4-6 6-1 to make a quick exit from a tournament he has won five times. "It felt like the first match I have ever played on the tour, very weird," he told reporters. "I just completely lost rhythm, everything, struggled a little bit with the health the last couple of weeks."

"For me it felt like (the) first match I ever played on the tour. Very weird. I mean, I just completely lost rhythm." --Novak Djokovic #BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/bBTgkUHhIv

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 11, 2018

Djokovic took six months off after Wimbledon last year and returned in January's Australian Open where he lost in the fourth round. He had surgery in Switzerland shortly after that. "I was grateful to be out on the court after surgery that quickly but at the same time just didn't feel good at all," he added. "Nerves were there. I made so many unforced errors."

Daniel does it! In the biggest win of his career, 25-year-old qualifier Taro Daniel - ranked No. 109 - shocks five-time winner Novak Djokovic 7-6(3) 4-6 6-1 to move into the 3R#BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/hoEYhTlLLY

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 11, 2018

Djokovic's performance in the final set against the world's 109th-ranked player on centre court raised some eyebrows, with four-times grand slam champion Jim Courier saying the Serb had "capitulated". "The question marks surrounding his defeat today will only grow larger," Courier said in commentary on the Tennis Channel. "We wondered post surgery what it was going to look like, how his elbow was going to react to the strain and stress, but it was his heart and head that didn't react the right way in this match. That is as head scratching as anything you'll see." Holder Roger Federer avoided the same fate as Djokovic, though the Swiss top seed was pushed by left-handed Argentine Federico Delbonis in a match that was completed on Sunday after being halted by rain at 2-2 in the second set the previous day. The top seed fended off a set point in the tiebreak to beat Delbonis 6-3 7-6(6).

From under the evening lights to the bright Sunday sun, Roger Federer needs two days to beat Federico Delbonis, 6-3 7-6(4). He's into the #BNPPO18 3R pic.twitter.com/7Vk4B4lwAN

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 11, 2018

"It's been a long time since I have been interrupted at night and have to come back the next day," said Federer. "In the night-time, the ball is much more deader. The surface doesn't react so much." Frenchman Gael Monfils survived a match point before beating big-serving American John Isner 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-5 in a contest that had only one break.

Monfils Magic The former quarterfinalist overcomes No. 15 Isner 6-7(5) 7-6(3) 7-5, sets up all-French 3R showdown with Herbert.#BNPPO18 pic.twitter.com/FUwlmdrLkY

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 11, 2018

Isner, the 15th seed, frittered away seven break points, while Monfils converted one of his three opportunities, which proved enough. Yuki Bhambri of India pulled off a surprise when he toppled ninth-seeded Frenchman Lucas Pouille 6-4 6-4. Israeli Dudi Sela beat British 21st seed Edmund 6-4 6-4, while Luxemburg's 24th seed Giles Muller was upset by Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-3 7-5. In late action, Croat second seed Marin Cilic beat Hungarian Marton Fucsovics 7-5 6-3, while Canadian Milos Raonic defeated 17-year-old compatriot Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-4 6-4. The tournament also lost Japan's Kei Nishikori, who withdrew through illness.