Even star players have a bucket list. Imagine achieving global recognition, and having your pockets lined with millions in earnings, but there’s something left to experience. Even Novak Djokovic feels the same. The Serbian didn’t “play many doubles matches in the last 5 years” before teaming up with his ‘bromance’ partner, Nick Kyrgios, in Brisbane this year. Now that he’s got a taste for it, the former World No. 1 is open to shooting his shot in doubles. However, the Serb will only settle for a well-thought-out celebrity line-up! Ones from crossports and entertainment!
The 24-time Slam winner arrived in the Californian desert for the BNP Paribas Open. The sixth seed received a bye in the opening round and is slated to ignite the Indian Wells areas for the first time in six years on Sunday, March 9. Before his Round of 64 clash against Botic Van de Zandschulp, in a fun conversation on-site, Djokovic revealed his “dream celebrity doubles partners” which included big names like retired NFL star Tom Brady and NBA sensation LeBron James. It wasn’t just limited to them!
“One of the top athletes like Tom Brady or LeBron James, or Luka Dončić… the Joker. I think I’ll be doing the most movement on the court there. He would be probably serving well. On the female side, Jessica Alba,” spoke Djokovic.
Who is your dream celebrity doubles partner?
Novak: “One of the top athletes like Tom Brady or LeBron James, or Luka Dondic… the Joker. I think I’ll be doing the most movement on the court there. He would be probably serving well.” pic.twitter.com/wRPYC55vv1
— ᖴᖇᗩᑎI (@frani2312) March 8, 2025
For those unaware, Nole actively partakes in several exhibition doubles events. Over the past few years, the ‘Serbinator’ has doubled up with veterans like John McEnroe and even partnered with WTA No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka for a friendly mixed doubles contest in Melbourne last season.
Coming back to his singles commitments in Indian Wells, Djokovic believes he is in good shape. A hamstring injury at the Australian Open eliminated his bid for a record 25th Major at the Australian Open in January. He came back a month later, explaining that his medical team gave him the “green light” to participate. However, his recovery hiatus didn’t do much good, as he suffered a premature exit in Qatar.
Meanwhile, his nascent coaching partnership with Briton Andy Murray also observed its fair share of speculation from fans. Regardless, the Serbian star cleared all pending queries in Tennis Paradise. He says he is ready for the hunt once again and even explains how his alliance with Murray has worked in his favor so far. But there’s a catch.
Novak Djokovic says he ‘struggled to find his best game’ in Indian Wells
Serbian trailblazer Novak Djokovic is one of the two players to complete a three-peat in Indian Wells. The former World No. 1, alongside Roger Federer, are the only male players to consecutively lift the Masters 1000 title three times a row. So when Djokovic expressed struggling to find his rhythm at the Sunshine Double, fans sensed an unsettling irony. Well, the truth is that the Serb hasn’t enjoyed much success in California after defending his title for the third time in 2016.
During a pre-tournament presser, a record five-time winner of the Sunshine Double, said: “I’ll play the Sunshine Double first time after six years. I haven’t done really well in Indian Wells and Miami ever since 2016 or ‘17, and I struggled to find my best game here,” he said. “I’m not going to get younger, I know that. But I definitely look to go deep in the tournament. I’ve done, I think, the right things in preparation.”
Interesting fact: Novak Djokovic holds an Indian Wells tournament record of 20 consecutive wins from 2014 to 2017.
Nole also addressed his coaching stint with three-time Slam winner Murray saying that he expects to carry their partnership through the clay season, including the French Open. “I’m enjoying the relationship with Andy. I still feel like we are going through the process of getting to know each other on the court in a different way than we have known each other for 25 years. So it’s obviously a new role for him. He’s also exploring it and trying to understand how he can excel in it.”
For now, all eyes will be focused on Djokovic. A clear favorite, the Serbian sensation will look to lift his title drought in Indian Wells and, with it, claim his 100th ATP title.
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