Djokovic/Tsitsipas Fall to Rinderknech/Vacherot in Indian Wells Doubles

Unseeded French duo advance to quarter-finals with upset win over top singles stars

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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In a surprise result at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, the unseeded French doubles team of Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot defeated the high-profile pairing of Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas 7-6(4), 7-5 in the second round of the doubles tournament. The French cousins demonstrated poise under pressure, saving three set points in the first set and rallying from a 3-5 deficit in the second set to secure the victory in one hour and 42 minutes.

Why it matters

This result is an upset, as Djokovic and Tsitsipas were expected to make a deep run in the doubles event. However, the French duo of Rinderknech and Vacherot have now defeated two high-profile singles pairings, having previously taken out Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien in the first round. Their run will continue in the quarter-finals against another pairing of singles stars, Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev.

The details

Rinderknech and Vacherot fired 11 aces and saved four of the five break points they faced, according to Infosys ATP Stats, to earn the straight-sets victory. After trailing 3-5 in the second set, the French duo won four consecutive games to clinch the match. Djokovic, a five-time champion at Indian Wells, will now shift his focus to the singles event, where he is scheduled to face Jack Draper in the fourth round on Wednesday. Tsitsipas, meanwhile, lost in the opening round of the singles tournament to Denis Shapovalov.

  • The match took place on Tuesday, March 11, 2026.

The players

Arthur Rinderknech

A French doubles player who, along with his cousin Valentin Vacherot, has now defeated two high-profile singles pairings at the BNP Paribas Open.

Valentin Vacherot

The cousin of Arthur Rinderknech, and the other half of the French doubles team that upset Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas.

Novak Djokovic

A Serbian tennis player and one of the greatest of all time, who is a five-time champion at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

A Greek tennis player who was formerly ranked No. 3 in the world and was paired with Djokovic in the doubles event at Indian Wells.

Karen Khachanov

A Russian tennis player who, along with compatriot Andrey Rublev, will face Rinderknech and Vacherot in the quarter-finals of the doubles tournament.

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What’s next

Djokovic will now focus on his singles campaign at Indian Wells, where he is scheduled to face Jack Draper in the fourth round on Wednesday. Rinderknech and Vacherot will face Khachanov and Rublev in the quarter-finals of the doubles tournament.

The takeaway

This result highlights the unpredictability of doubles tennis, where even top singles players can be upset by lesser-known doubles specialists. It also demonstrates the depth of talent in the men's game, with a new generation of players like Rinderknech and Vacherot emerging to challenge the established stars.