The BNP Paribas Open is upon us, and each Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have returned to Tennis Paradise after lacking final yr’s festivities. They headline a loaded ATP area for the primary of back-to-back Masters 1000 occasions, one which options each one of many high 35 gamers within the present rankings.
That is, as at all times, the start of the Sunshine Double. February was all about amount. March is all about high quality. Final month there have been ATP and WTA tournaments everywhere in the world at any time when and wherever you can look. This month there are two: Indian Wells and Miami. That’s it. That’s the checklist. And that’s all a tennis fan wants when the 2 tournaments are this good.
For now it’s time to concentrate on Indian Wells. Right here is my preview and my picks for the primary Masters 1000 occasion of 2024.
BNP Paribas Open
The place: Palm Springs, California Prize cash: $9,495,555 Prime seed: Novak Djokovic Defending champion: Carlos Alcaraz
Till Jannik Sinner loses a match this season (he’s at the moment 12-0), it’s onerous to justify choosing in opposition to him. The Italian gained each the Australian Open and Rotterdam, taking him to No. 3 on this planet. Being in a special half from Djokovic constitutes a superb draw, however on the similar time issues might get tough for Sinner within the second week. Ben Shelton is a potential fourth-round foe, after which the 22-year-old might meet Andrey Rublev within the QFs and Carlos Alcaraz within the SFs.
Alcaraz is the defending champion, however he has not gained a title since…look forward to it…Wimbledon final summer time. The 2-time main champion might have to lift his degree straight away as a result of his first opponent may very well be an in-form Matteo Arnaldi. Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, and Karen Khachanov are additionally a part of Alcaraz’s part.
After all, the largest story of the IW draw ceremony was at all times going to Nadal. Clearly unseeded since he’s ranked No. 652 within the phrase, the 37-year-old ended up touchdown within the high half of the bracket with Djokovic (in Daniil Medvedev’s quarter). Nadal will kick off his fortnight in opposition to Milos Raonic and if he wins will run into Holger Rune. After that, potential opponents embrace Lorenzo Musetti within the final 32 and Taylor Fritz within the spherical of 16. Fritz beat Nadal within the 2022 Indian Wells closing.
As for Djokovic, is on collision programs with Marseille and Dubai champion Ugo Humbert for the fourth spherical and with Hubert Hurkacz for the quarterfinals. First-round matches to look at:Rafael Nadal vs. Milos RaonicMatteo Arnaldi vs. Luca Van AsscheDenis Shapovalov vs. Botic van de ZandschulpStan Wawrinka vs. Tomas MachacGael Monfils vs. Max Purcell
Quarterfinal picks: Hubert Hurkacz over Novak Djokovic, Taylor Fritz over Grigor Dimitrov, Jannik Sinner over Andrey Rublev, and Alex de Minaur over Carlos Alcaraz
Semifinals: Fritz over Hurkacz and Sinner over De Minaur
Closing: Sinner over Fritz
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You possibly can comply with him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
