Rublev, Canadians Lead New ATP San Diego Field; Murray Meets Nishikori

With Asia still of the pro tennis calendar, a new ATP event in San Diego was added as a lead-up to Indian Wells which is just a week away.

The first-year tournament features an extremely strong field for a 250, boasting six players inside the Top 20 including top seed Andrey Rublev, Casper Ruud, Canadians Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov plus recent Metz champion Hubert Hurkacz and Diego Schwartzman. The last direct acceptance was Tommy Paul at No. 54.

Andy Murray and Kei Nishikori both earned wildcards and in a twist of fate drew each other in the first round on Tuesday. The winner gets Ruud.

Sebastian Korda, Aslan Karatsev, Grigor Dimitrov, Taylor Fritz, Dan Evans and Fabio Fognini are also in the draw.

Rublev will open against Monday’s Fognini-Brandon Nakashima winner.

The event, run by former coach Dani Valverduu, is on a 1-year license, but if it goes well and can maintain sponsors, where will it fall in the 2022 calendar?