Indian Wells goes on, but sadly without Djokovic

INDIAN WELLS — Such a beautiful day Thursday at the BNP Paribas Open. The temperature blitzing its way past 97 degrees. Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner blitzing their way to easy victories. 

Such a sad day at the BNP. The golden oldie, Novak Djokovic, is no longer around. 

Djokovic, at 38, desperately trying to reclaim his glorious past, showed resolve and courage Wednesday night against Jack Draper. What he couldn’t show at the end was a W. Draper, the defending champion, holding on for a 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 triumph. 

It was a Djokovic crowd. Most of the 16,000 at Stadium 1 were hooting and hollering for the one who holds the men’s record of 24 Grand Slam victories.

But finally it was Draper’s match.

“It was so close, so close,” sighed Djokovic, echoing the thoughts of so many after narrow losses through the decades. “I mean, just unfortunate few mistakes from my side. Tiebreak, 4-3 up. 5-all, as well. That’s tennis.”

That’s tennis for someone whose game has slipped just enough and who now ranks behind Sinner or the top man, Carlos Alcaraz. 

It’s the inevitability of sport. Your skills decline, even if your determination does not.

No matter how great you were, that cunning guy called Father Time will catch you and pull you down. There is always a new generation moving in and taking over. 

The question is, how long can the greats of the old generation keep going? How long can they accept losing where they used to win?

The “few mistakes,” Djokovic said he made when the match was on the line, used to be made by his opponents. Not Novak. 

He’s still more than competent, having reached the finals of the Australian Open a few months ago, then falling to Alcaraz. Still, there is no reversing the decline.

Djokovic hoped the BNP, Indian Wells, which he had won five times, would be a renaissance after recovering from injuries. Maybe it was a partial one. We may find out soon enough.  Djokovic will next play in Miami in the second half of the so-called Sunshine Double. His progress, or lack thereof, will not go unnoticed.

But there is no escaping his assessment after Indian Wells.

“I mean, bitter feeling right now, losing a match like it,” Djokovic said in the media conference immediately after the loss. “But proud of myself for fighting and really giving it all on the court. That’s for sure. That’s the one thing I’ll take as a highlight, you know, just the fact of not giving up and trying.”

You wouldn’t expect a concession from an athlete of any stature, much less a champion.  Through the years, his presence made Indian Wells a more compelling and exciting event.

It’s unfortunate this year he couldn’t at least reach the quarterfinals.