Stefanos Tsitsipas may be struggling for form in singles, but the Greek star found a unique silver lining at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
By teaming up with Novak Djokovic in the
doubles draw, Tsitsipas became the only player to have partnered with all three members of the legendary ‘Big Three’.
The 25-year-old had previously played alongside Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal during the Laver Cup 2019, and his pairing with Djokovic now completes the rare trio.
Interestingly, Tsitsipas also holds another unique distinction — he was the youngest player to record wins over Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, achieving the feat at just 20 years old.
Djokovic–Tsitsipas Pair Stuns Defending Champions
Despite being an unfamiliar doubles partnership, Djokovic and Tsitsipas quickly found their rhythm on court.
The wildcard duo produced an impressive opening-round performance, defeating defending champions Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 6–3, 6–2.
The victory sets up a second-round clash against the pair of Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot.
Singles Struggles Continue
While the doubles run offers a bright moment, Tsitsipas’ singles campaign in California ended almost immediately.
The former world No.3 suffered a first-round defeat to Denis Shapovalov, continuing a difficult start to the 2026 season.
The loss marked his sixth singles defeat of the year, following another disappointment at the Dubai Tennis Championships, where he had been the defending champion.
The early exits have placed Tsitsipas in danger of dropping out of the ATP Top 50, a stark contrast to earlier expectations that he would become one of the sport’s next dominant figures.
Questions Over Tsitsipas’ Form
Tsitsipas has insisted he has fully recovered from the back injury that troubled him last season, but his performances have remained inconsistent.
The return of his father, Apostolos Tsitsipas, as coach has yet to spark a turnaround, as the Greek star faces mounting questions about whether he can rediscover his old form.
