Novak Djokovic is back in Tennis Paradise, exactly 20 years after making his desert debut. 

In 2006, a teenaged Djokovic was ranked 67th and lost his opener to French qualifier Julien Benneteau. 

Qualifiers or lucky losers have gotten the better of the 24-time Grand Slam winner very early and very recently in his Indian Wells career but the 38-year-old piled up the trophies in between. 

Just how many titles has Djokovic won in Indian Wells? 

Djokovic has tallied five titles in Indian Wells, tied for the most alongside Roger Federer. He beat Federer in back to back finals in 2014 and 2015, also getting the better of the other “Big Three” member, Rafael Nadal, in 2011 when the Spaniard held the No. 1 ranking. 

Nadal handed Djokovic his lone loss in an Indian Wells final in 2007. 

While Djokovic has only played doubles sporadically in his lengthy career, the Serb reached the semifinals in Indian Wells in 2019 partnering Fabio Fognini. 

What has Djokovic done recently in Indian Wells? 

As hard as it is to fathom given all his success, Djokovic hasn’t reached the quarterfinals in his last five appearances. 

Last year, speaking of those qualifiers or lucky losers, lucky loser Botic van de Zandschulp — who owned previous wins against Carlos Alcaraz and Nadal — topped Djokovic in his opening match following a bye. 

In his Indian Wells return in 2024, another lucky loser, Luca Nardi, upended Djokovic in the third round. 

Adding to the list, qualifier Taro Daniel beat Djokovic in the second round in 2018. 

Djokovic’s last quarterfinal came in 2016 when he went all the way. 

Who will he meet in the second round this year?

It won’t be a qualifier or lucky loser, that we know. After a bye, he’ll start against either all-arounder Kamil Majchrzak or the massive serving Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard. 

Poland’s Majchrzak — a former junior No. 7 — enjoyed his finest season at pro level in 2025. 

This season, he led eventual winner Daniil Medvedev by a set in Brisbane in January and eventual finalist Arthur Fils by a set in Doha in February. 

The 6-foot-8 Mpetshi Perricard recently cut ties with coach Emmanuel Planque after his ranking drifted outside the top 60 but with his serve, is ever dangerous.

What is his current form like? 

Djokovic hasn’t played since the Australian Open, where he said he surprised himself by making the final. It was his first foray to a Slam final since Wimbledon 2024. 

“I must be very honest and say that I didn't think that I would be standing in a closing ceremony of a Grand Slam once again,” Djokovic said in Melbourne after his four-set loss to Alcaraz. 

He pulled out of the Qatar Open in Doha last month, citing fatigue. 

What has Djokovic been up to lately? 

Besides spending time with his family after the Australian Open, Djokovic headed to Milano Cortina, Italy, to take in figure skating at the Winter Olympics. 

Once in California just prior to Indian Wells, Djokovic watched the Los Angeles Lakers beat the Sacramento Kings in the NBA. 

Afterwards, he posed for photos with Lakers duo LeBron James and Luka Doncic. Djokovic is a basketball fan and said he was a “close” friend of another Lakers icon, the late Kobe Bryant. 

He also visited UCLA and had some words of wisdom for the university’s football team. 

Later this week, he'll make his return to the tennis court.