There was a time, not so long ago, when Novak Djokovic lost so rarely that it seemed the tennis world wobbled on its axis every time he did, shaking with the shock of it all.

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. — Novak Djokovic came to California with big plans and high hopes. He would play the so-called Sunshine Double of Indian Wells and Miami for the first time in seven years, hopefully to have some success after a solid few weeks of practice.

Novak Djokovic has criticized the Indian Wells playing conditions in light of his unexpected ouster from the competition. The Serbian rising star was shocked to lose to world No. 85 Botic van de Zandschulp 2-6,