Djokovic loses at Indian Wells

The Novak Djokovic crisis continues.

He was unable to get past his opening match in Indian Wells (Riverside County) on Sunday even after another extended break from the game he once dominated and after what he termed “a small medical intervention” on his troublesome right elbow.

He looked strong and precise in the early phases of his threeset loss to Japanese qualifier Taro Daniel in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open.

Djokovic failed to serve out the opening set at 5-3 and then lost it in a tiebreaker. Though he came back to win the second set, he went adrift again in the third, losing 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-1.

The final shot of the match was an errant forehand that was also his 58th unforced error.

“Very weird; I just completely lost rhythm,” said Djokovic, the No. 10 seed, who said he felt like someone playing his “first match” on tour.

Also, defending champion Roger Federer completed a rain-delayed debut match with a 6-3, 7-6 (6) win over Federico Delbonis of Argentina. On Saturday, Federer led 6-3, 2-2 when the match was delayed by a heavy drizzle 56 minutes after it began. Federer faces Filip Krajinovic on Monday.

On the women’s side, 16-yearold Amanda Anisimova has won three straight matches. She ousted Petra Kvitova, the No. 9 seed and two-time Wimbledon champion, 6-2, 6-4.