Indian Wells Men’s Preview: Djokovic Seeks Record 6th Title Against Alcaraz, Sinner, Nadal
At the Indian Wells Masters, Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal will be at the same event for the first time in over a year since the 2023 Australian Open.
Nadal, who is coming off a left hip niggle he suffered in Brisbane, is a 3-time champion. But expectations will be low in Nadal’s first US event since the 2022 US Open, which was won by the new Spanish superstar Carlos Alcaraz.
The 20-year-old Alcaraz will bid to defend his 2023 Indian Wells title.
Taylor Fritz and Cameron Norrie are among the other former champions in the field which includes all Top 35 players! Jannik Sinner is the latest Grand Slam winner taking the Australian Open.
Top seeds are 1 Novak Djokovic, 2 Carlos Alcaraz, 3 Jannik Sinner, 4 Daniil Medvedev, 5 Andrey Rublev, 6 Alexander Zverev, 7 Holger Rune, 8 Hubert Hurkacz, 9 Casper Ruud, 10 Alex De Minaur, 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas, 12 Taylor Fritz, 13 Grigor Dimitrov, 14 Ugo Humbert, 15 Karen Khachanov and 16 Ben Shelton.
The projected R16 are:
1 Djokovic – 14 Humbert
9 Ruud – 8 Hurkacz
4 Medvedev – 13 Dimitrov
12 Fritz – 7 Rune
5 Rublev – 11 Tsitsipas
16 Shelton – 3 Sinner
6 Zverev – 10 De Minaur
15 Khachanov – 2 Alcaraz
NOVAK DJOKOVIC QUARTER
Seeds: 1 Djokovic, 8 Hurkacz, 9 Ruud, 14 Humbert, 17 Paul, 23 Davidovich Fokina, 28 Norrie, 30 Etcheverry
Floaters: Sonego, Kecmanovic, Fils, Zhang, Kovacevic, Monfils, Michelson
Notable openers: Lorenzo Sonego-Miomir Kecmanovic
Projected 3R matches: 1 Djokovic – 30 Etcheverry, 17 Paul – 14 Humbert, 9 Ruud – 23 Davidovich Fokina, 28 Norrie – 8 Hurkacz
Notes: Novak Djokovic will seek a record sixth Indian Wells title. After a disappointing finish in Australia, the Serb returns after a month-plus break faced with a really nice draw. The hard-hitting Tomas Martin Etcheverry could be in the third round, with Tommy Paul (who might face rising American Alex Michelson) or Ugo Humbert in the fourth with Casper Ruud or Hurbert Hurkacz in the quarters. Frenchman Arthur Fils also lurks but in the quick, dry air a big server like Hurkacz could do well.
DANIIL MEDVEDEV QUARTER
Seeds: 4 Medvedev, 7 Rune, 12 Fritz, 13 Dimitrov, 19 Baez, 21 Mannarino, 26 Musetti, 29 Korda
Floaters: Shapovalov, Evans, Van De Zandschulp, Wawrinka, Fognini, Nadal
Notable openers: Roman Safiullin-Daniel Evans, Stan Wawrinka-Tomas Machac, Botic Van De Zandschulp-Denis Shapovalov, Milos Raonic-Rafael Nadal
Projected 3R matches: 4 Medvedev – 29 Korda, 21 Mannarino – 13 Dimitrov, 12 Fritz – 19 Baez, 26 Musetti – 7 Rune
Notes: A huge unseeded battle between 3-time champion Rafael Nadal and former finalist Milos Raonic kicks things off in the second quarter. Daniil Medvedev, a finalist a year ago, is the class of the quarter though the Russian has to still be smarting after that crushing Australian Open final loss. Medvedev has a tricky draw with Sebastian Korda and then Grigor Dimitrov lurking. Nadal, if he wins, would face Rune in the second round with a rematch of their 2022 final against Taylor Fritz in the fourth. This is a very deep section.
JANNIK SINNER QUARTER
Seeds: 3 Sinner, 5 Rublev, 11 Tsitsipas, 16 Shelton, 18 Tiafoe, 22 Cerundolo, 25 Struff, 32 Lehecka
Floaters: Coric, Eubanks, Murray, Ruusuvuori, Nakashima, Kokkinakis, Shevchenko, Goffin, Mensik
Notable openers: Andy Murray-David Goffin, Christopher Eubanks-Brandon Nakashima, Borna Coric-Sebastian Ofner
Projected 3R matches: 5 Rublev – 32 Lehecka, 18 Tiafoe – 11 Tsitsipas, 16 Shelton – 22 Cerundolo, 25 Struff – 3 Sinner
Notes: Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner could make the case as the tournament favorite. The Italian is a perfect 12-0 on the year and made the Indian Wells semifinals. Can anyone beat him in quarter? American lefty Ben Shelton is likely the lone roadblock. Shelton, though, will have to get through Jakob Mensek and Francisco Cerundolo to get there. Andy Murray opens Wednesday against David Goffin with a Friday showdown with hot-headed Andrey Rublev looming.
CARLOS ALCARAZ QUARTER
Seeds: 6 Zverev, 10 De Minaur, 15 Khachanov, 20 Bublik, 24 Jarry, 27 Griekspoor, 31 Auger Aliassime
Floaters: Wolf, Thompson, Popyrin, Arnaldi, Van Assche, Seyboth Wild, Draper, Shang
Notable openers: Matteo Arnaldi-Luca Van Assche, Yannick Hanfmann-Pedro Cachin
Projected 3R matches: 6 Zverev – 27 Griekspoor, 20 Bublik – 10 De Minaur, 15 Khachanov – 24 Jarry, 31 Auger Aliassime – 2 Alcaraz
Notes: Following a right ankle roll from Rio, Carlos Alcaraz is back on court where he will defend his 2023 Indian Wells title. Still only 20, Alcaraz is firmly among the favorites, though he hasn’t won a title since Wimbledon. Alcaraz will have a very tall task to repeat with either Luca Van Assche or Matteo Arnaldi right off the bat, and then Felix Auger-Aliassime with the man how beat him in Australia, Alexander Zverev, in the quarters.
Former champions: Djokovic (5), Norrie, Fritz, Nadal (3), Alcaraz
Former finalists: Medvedev, Wawrinka, Raonic, Murray
Last year, (1) Carlos Alcaraz defeated (5) Daniil Medvedev 6-3 6-2.
LAST 10 INDIAN WELLS CHAMPIONS/FINALS
2023 Carlos Alcaraz d Daniil Medvedev 6-3, 6-2
2022 Taylor Fritz d Rafael Nadal 6-3, 7-6(5)
2021 Cameron Norrie d Nikoloz Basilashvili 3-6, 6-4, 6-1
2019 Dominic Thiem d Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5
2018 Juan Martin del Potro d Roger Federer 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(2)
2017 Roger Federer d Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-5
2016 Novak Djokovic d Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0
2015 Novak Djokovic d Roger Federer 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2
2014 Novak Djokovic d Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3)
2013 Rafael Nadal d Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 6-3, 6-4
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