"A bitter feeling right now, losing the match like this": Novak Djokovic laments fine margin difference that led to Jack Draper marathon loss

Novak Djokovic admitted he was left with a “bitter feeling” after losing a dramatic three-set battle to Jack Draper at the BNP Paribas Open, insisting the match ultimately came down to “one point”.

Djokovic fell 4–6, 6–4, 7–6 in a gripping quarter-final at Indian Wells contest lasting more than two and a half hours, with Draper keeping his title defence alive in the California desert.

Speaking after the match, the Serbian reflected on the fine margins that decided the contest, Draper’s performance and his own feelings after a narrow defeat.

Djokovic summed up the decisive moment of the encounter with stark simplicity. “One point,” he said when asked what made the difference in his press conference. The 24-time Grand Slam champion explained how a spectacular rally late in the third set drained his remaining energy despite winning the point itself. “It cost me a break after,” Djokovic admitted. 'It was great winning that point in that game, but I just ran completely out of gas and started to feel a little bit down towards the end of the third set.”

However, Djokovic managed to recover momentum when Draper failed to serve out the match at 5–4. “He played a sloppy game to close it out at 5–4 and I got the crowd backing me,” Djokovic said. I felt the energy and thought maybe I was going to take this one. It was so close — so close.”

Despite forcing the deciding tiebreak, Djokovic acknowledged that a few key mistakes proved costly. “Just an unfortunate few mistakes from my side in the tiebreak,” he said.

The Serbian later learned he had actually won one more point than Draper across the entire match — a statistic that emphasised how narrow the defeat had been. “I didn’t even know that I had won one point more than my opponent,” Djokovic said. But it’s really a disappointment. One point or a couple of points decided today’s winner.”

Djokovic was quick to praise Draper, who is still building momentum after returning from injury earlier in the season. “I don’t think there’s any major difference in his level from what he showed before the injury,” Djokovic said. “He’s been playing at a great level. I watched some highlights from Dubai where he played a few matches, and here he’s the defending champion and really likes the conditions. You could see that tonight. He’s playing really well, he’s confident, physically very fit — overall a great player and a great guy. I wish him all the best for the rest of the tournament.”

During the match there were several moments where members of the crowd shouted out during rallies, but Djokovic insisted he understood the excitement of the occasion. “It is what it is,” he said. "It’s excitement from the crowd as well. People sometimes in the heat of the moment in a battle like tonight get excited during the point or between the points. I don’t judge or criticise anybody. It was an incredible match to be part of on the court and I’m sure also for the people watching in the stadium.”

Although disappointed with the result, Djokovic said he could still take positives from the way he competed. “A bitter feeling right now, losing the match like this,” he admitted. "But I’m proud of myself for fighting and really giving it all on the court. That’s the one thing I’ll take as a highlight — not giving up and trying. I lost to a great player and it was such an even match throughout the entire two and a half hours.”

The Serbian added that the atmosphere made it one of the standout matches of the tournament. “The audience was great, really. The atmosphere was incredible. It was the best match of the tournament for sure.”

Djokovic acknowledged that winning a couple of matches at Indian Wells was a positive step, but admitted it still falls short of his own expectations. “For my expectations and my standards, it’s not enough,” he said. "Of course I’m disappointed right now because I wish I could have done better, but that’s sport. I’ve had many victories like this in my life and defeats as well. That’s how it goes.”