Tennis Men Kick Off Friday at ATP Indian Wells

While no seeds take to the court Friday at Indian Wells, men's play begins with a few back-stories on court in a mentally struggling former No. 1 Spaniard, some French and American next-generation teens, a newly-engaged Aussie trying to find his form, an old Aussie playing young again, a handful of American qualifiers trying to make the leap, and a British pariah-turned-Davis Cup hero.

Indian Wells is the first ATP Masters Series event of the year, with world No. 1 Roger Federer looking to make it two in a row in the desert.

Scheduled for Friday is the former No. 1 Ferrero vs. Andreev, (WC) Blake vs. A.Martin, Morrison vs. (WC) Gael Monfils, Max Mirnyi vs. Xavier Malisse, (Q) Carraz vs. (WC) Philippoussis, (WC) Kuznetsov vs. Rainer Schuettler, Tursunov vs. Calleri, (Q) Clement vs. (WC) "The" Donald Young, (Q) Vahaly vs. Ferrer, Beck vs. Enqvist, (Q) Odesnik vs. Fernando Verdasco, "Grinning" Greg Rusedski vs. (Q) Salzenstein, (Q) Giovanni Lapentti vs. K.Kim, Florian Mayer vs. Carlsen, (Q) Wayne "The Serving Machine" Arthurs vs. "You Say" Potito Starace, Volandri vs. (Q) Zib, Arazi vs. Berdych, Bjorkman vs. Irakli "Freak Show" Labadze, Fabrice Santoro vs. Ricardo Mello "Yello," Dupuis vs. Juan Monaco, Zabaleta vs. OlivierRochus, (Q) Goldstein vs. H.-T. Lee, Sargis Sargsian vs. (Q) Reynolds, and "Dr." Ivo Karlovic vs. Julien "United Colors of" Benneteau.