Women’s Seeds: Serena Williams, Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova, Maria Sharapova, Agnieszka Radwanska, Caroline Wozniacki, Angelique Kerber, Eugenie Bouchard, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic, Sara Errani, Ekaterina Makarova, Lucie Safarova, Flavia Pennetta, Andrea Petkovic, Venus Williams

Notes: It’s the debut of the Premier 5 Series event in China…Victoria Azarenka pulls from the event with a foot injury, and announces she will miss the rest of the year…Potential tough starts include (1) Serena Williams after a bye vs. her nemesis Cornet, the struggling (6) Bouchard after a bye vs. the resurgent Peng, (4) Sharapova after a bye vs. countrywoman and former world No. 2 Kuznetsova, (5) Radwanska after a bye vs. the Venus/Garcia winner, (16) Petkovic vs. the comer (Q) Vekic, (12) Cibulkova vs. the big-hitting Keys, and (14) Safarova vs. the likewise big-hitting Lisicki…

Notes: Potential tough starts for (8) Granollers against the Ginepri-Mathieu winner, (6) Sousa vs. the explosive Janowicz, and (16) Johnson vs. his American compatriot Querrey…Wildcards went to South African Kevin Anderson and Americans Ginepri, Ryan Harrison and Wimbledon boys’ winner Noah Rubin…Notable withdrawals from the tournament include Wimbledon doubles winners Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock, and Dmitry Tursunov…Jurgen Melzer beat Gael Monfils in last year’s final…Returning former champs in the field are Melzer (2013) and Isner (2012-11).

Women’s Notes: Potential tough first-rounders went to (1) Serena vs. the former Slam winner Stosur, (7) Bouchard vs. Kuznetsova, (5) Sharapova vs. the Cornet/Keys winner, and (16) Safarova vs. Venus…Wildcards went to Americans Lauren Davis and Christina McHale, and Swiss Belinda Bencic…Pulling from the event were Li Na and Yvonne Meusburger…Last year Azarenka beat Serena Williams in the final…Returning champs in the field are Azarenka (2013), Sharapova (2011), and Jankovic (2009).

Seeded winners on the day were No. 10 Dominika Cibulkova putting down a stern test from Canadian wildcard Francoise Abanda 6-1, 3-6, 6-0, and No. 15 Lucie Safarova topping Sorana Cirstea 6-4, 6-2.

Notes: Loaded field with a slew of floaters testing seeds early…Li Na out with a knee injury…The Top 8 seeds receive first-round byes…

The hodgepodge of seeds includes a former world No. 1 and Wimbledon champ and this year’s Wimbledon men’s doubles winner…Interesting starts for (7) Sock vs. the veteran Kuznetsov and the struggling (2) Karlovic vs. Ginepri…

Wildcards went to Azarenka and Brits Heather Watson and Johanna Konta…Pulling from the event were Svetlana Kuznetsova and Sorana Cirstea…Tough starts go to (5) Kerber vs. Riske, (4) Azarenka vs. Giogi, (8) Wozniacki vs. Stosur, and (2) Kvitova vs. Safarova…Returning former champs in the field are Wozniacki (2009) and Radwanksa (2008).

World No. 1 Serena Williams is the top seed this week at the Internazionali BNL d’Italia, otherwise known as the Italian Open, but she may not even set foot on the clay after withdrawing from Madrid last week with a thigh injury.

Notes: Serena is shooting for her third Charleston title in a row…Surprising lack of floaters…(10) Maria Kirilenko vs. (Q) Bencic could be interesting…Wildcards went to Melanie Oudin, Nadia Petrova, and Shelby Rogers…Qualifying to the main draw were Swiss Belinda Bencic. Dutchwoman Kiki Bertens, Aussie Jarmila Gajdoeova, Russian Alla Kudryavtseva, Portugal’s Michelle Larcher de Brito, American Grace Min, the Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko, and China’s Zheng Saisai…Notable pulls from the event were Alize Cornet, Casey Dellacqua, Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Bethanie Mattek-Sands…Former champs in the field are Serena Williams (2013,’12,’08), Stosur (2010), Jankovic (2007), Nadia Petrova (2006), and Venus Williams (2004).

Some closing thoughts on what we saw at Indian Wells.

“As I said before the match today, very few points will decide a winner, and that’s what happened,” Djokovic said. “I needed to really be in the top of my game and very concentrated the last moment in order to win. That’s what I’ve done. Very proud of my achievements during this tournament.”

Will we see Novak Djokovic-John Isner semifinal for the second time in three years at Indian Wells on Saturday?

Roger Federer won his 10th straight match and returned to the Indian Wells semifinals.

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal pulled from the event citing a stomach virus…Ferrer shooting for third title in a row…Wildcards went to Ferrer and Argentines Facundo Arguello and Guido Pella…Returning champs in the field are Ferrer (2013-12), Almagro (2011), Robredo (2009), and Monaco (2007).