Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka, the world’s No.1 players had a rough day at the BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday as both of them were ushered out in the desert.
Djokovic’s match with Kohlschreiber was postponed till Tuesday due to rain but the unseeded German knocked off the five-time tournament champion 6-4, 6-4.
Meanwhile, Osaka lost to Belinda Bencic 6-3, 6-1 as the world No.1 never found her rhythm against the Swiss who toppled her in just one hour.
Before their encounter, Djokovic had owned an 8-1 record against Kohlschreiber but this time he failed to find the right notes to push past his opponent. The win made Kohlschreiber own his first one over a world No.1 player and will be meeting Gael Monfils in the fourth round.
“I congratulate him for playing tactically really well and getting me out of my comfort zone. He deserved to win”, Djokovic said after his defeat.
The 22-year-old Bencic who has made a habit of upending top-10 players of late, hit a forehand volley on match point to seal the win and dashed to quarter-finals.
“She sort of came out there really aggressive”, said Osaka about her opponent. “She knew what she wanted to do more than me.”
