Carlos Alcaraz faces a tough path at Indian Wells, with a potential quarterfinal clash against Novak Djokovic in his bid for a rare three-peat at the Masters 1000 event.
Djokovic, chasing his 100th career singles title, enters the tournament after beating Alcaraz en route to the Australian Open semifinals in January. The 24-time Grand Slam champion, who received a first-round bye, will open against either a qualifier or Australia’s Nick Kyrgios.
The men’s draw also features top-seeded Alexander Zverev, who could meet Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarterfinals. American Taylor Fritz, the 2022 champion, is on course for a possible final-eight meeting with Russia’s Andrey Rublev.
On the women’s side, defending champion Iga Swiatek is set for a quarterfinal battle with China’s Qinwen Zheng, who defeated her in last year’s Olympic semifinal. Top-seeded Aryna Sabalenka will look to rebound from early exits in Doha and Dubai, with Italy’s Jasmine Paolini as a possible quarterfinal opponent.
A potential all-American quarterfinal could also unfold, with 2023 US Open champion Coco Gauff and Australian Open winner Madison Keys drawn into the same half. No American woman has won Indian Wells since Serena Williams in 2001.
Meanwhile, Novak Djokovic has brought in former rival Andy Murray as part of his coaching team. Murray, who retired after the 2024 Paris Olympics, joined Djokovic’s staff at the Australian Open and has traveled to Indian Wells to continue their collaboration.
Indian Wells begins this week, followed by the Miami Open starting March 19. Djokovic, a five-time champion in the California desert, is playing both events for the first time since 2019.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ