"Beating him the first time when he plays, it's incredible no?": Jannik Sinner lauds compatriot Luca Nardi after shock Djokovic win

With the hoodoo of Italian players stretching not only from Jannik Sinner but now to World No.123, Luca Nardi, the former was quizzed about his compatriot taking down Novak Djokovic on Monday at Indian Wells.

Nardi who won 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 against Djokovic will now face Tommy Paul on Wednesday night aiming to join Sinner in the Quarter-Finals of Indian Wells with all eight matches being played on Thursday. Amid a myriad of top Italian talent including Cobolli, Arnaldi, Musetti among others, it was Nardi that shone to gain headlines alongside the excellence of Sinner.

Sinner who saw off Ben Shelton 7-5, 6-1 to reach the Quarter-Finals said that he knows him well with Nardi saying after his win over Djokovic that they'd practiced together before and that it was incredible that on his first try, he was able to pick apart the World No.1 and after likely trepidation of facing Djokovic for the first time to seal a result akin to that makes it even more sweeter.

"He's a very nice guy. He's a really good kid, and I'm really happy for him. These are the moments, you know, playing against the No. 1 in the world, you go on court, you never know what to expect, what's happening. You know, beating him the first time when he plays, it's incredible, no?" Sinner said in a presser after his win against Ben Shelton.

Defeating Shelton, Sinner tore apart the American both physically and mentally to continue his incredible winning streak as of late which albeit due to the lack of tournaments is perhaps an anomaly has stretched over three months and doesn't seem to be stopping. The Italian revolution continues and as one more player joins the party, it is Sinner who will continue to court the headlines for further success going forward as he likely becomes favourite now for the title alongside Carlos Alcaraz in the desert who also won on Tuesday.