Novak Djokovic has finally confirmed he will play at the upcoming Indian Wells Masters, which begins this week. The Serbian tennis star has only played one tournament so far this season but made it count by reaching the Australian Open final.
Novak Djokovic Back in Action at Indian Wells
Djokovic, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, beat Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals before losing to eventual champion Carlos Alcaraz in four sets. That marked his only competitive appearance this season so far.
After Melbourne, Djokovic decided to skip the Qatar Open and Dubai Tennis Championships to recover from the grueling Australian Open campaign. In recent years, he has been selective with non-Grand Slam events to save energy for the biggest tournaments. Despite missing these events, he is now ready to return at Indian Wells.
Watch: Novak Djokovic trains at UCLA ahead of Indian Wells
To prepare for Indian Wells, Djokovic has been training at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in recent days. He even joined the university’s American football team during their practice sessions.
“As an individual athlete, one of the things I really miss is the team spirit that you build and maintain here every day,” Novak Djokovic said after spending time with them.
WATCH THE VIDEO:
the GOAT Novak Djokovic spotted practicing on UCLA courts today!!! 🐐🔥 pic.twitter.com/DNP52QAHoO
— ᖴᖇᗩᑎI ® (@frani2312) March 1, 2026
Djokovic Eyes Historic Sixth Indian Wells Title
Djokovic has an impressive record at Indian Wells, having won five titles, the joint-most alongside Roger Federer. However, he hasn’t lifted the trophy here since 2016 and was knocked out in the second and third rounds in his last two appearances. Overall, he holds a 51-11 win-loss record at the tournament.
Novak Djokovic has a golden opportunity to overtake Roger Federer at the Indian Wells Open. This March, all three stars—Djokovic, Jannik Sinner, and Carlos Alcaraz—will compete at the first ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the season.
While Carlos Alcaraz is aiming for his third title at “Tennis Paradise,” and Jannik Sinner is chasing his very first crown at the event. On the other hand, Djokovic is looking for his sixth Indian Wells Open title. Winning the prestigious title would make him the outright record-holder in tournament history, surpassing Roger Federer’s five titles.
