It feels bizarre having Carlos Alcaraz as the highest seed in Indian Wells 2023 males’s draw. He’s not primary on the earth anymore. He’s not the defending champion at Indian Wells. He’s injured, having suffered a hamstring pull in Rio. He misplaced to Rafael Nadal right here final yr in a famously wild and windy match. But Nadal and world primary Novak Djokovic usually are not right here, and 2022 champ Taylor Fritz hasn’t fairly been capable of prime successful this Masters 1000 occasion.
So right here Carlitos is, topping a still-intriguing males’s draw within the desert.
Among the many danger-boys Alcaraz may face in his quarter: Hubert Hurkacz, Tommy Paul and/or Felix Auger Aliassime. A lot is determined by the hamstring. He withdrew from an exhibition in Las Vegas final week, inflicting the occasion to be canceled. That’s enjoying it secure as a result of Vegas would’ve been an enormous paycheck.
On the opposite half of that facet, it will get sizzling all up in right here. Fritz has a troublesome draw. Holger Rune sits on the backside of that quarter, and that will be an ideal potential matchup. They’ve by no means performed. If Rune had been to come back by and face Alcaraz, that’s one other feisty one. They’ve cut up their head-to-head on indoor onerous courts, so who even is aware of what would occur out right here in Cali. These are some quick, flashy dudes. Circle it and hope it occurs.
As a 5 seed, Daniil Medvedev is the true headliner on the opposite facet, with 3 seed Casper Ruud additionally in that quarter. I don’t see an issue for Meddy early on, so long as he stays wholesome and hydrated. Ruud is off to a poor begin in 2023.
Second-seeded Stefanos Tsitsipas attracts “few instruments” foe Andrey Rublev in his quarter– not what the Greek wished to see. Medvedev has directed Rublev to “beat this man” after Stef made the disparaging comment in regards to the Russian and his ability set. A distraction shouldn’t be what Tsitsipas wants, plus he’s bought Matteo Berrettini, Francis Tiafoe and Cam Norrie all on this quarter. It’s the hardest a part of this 2023 Indian Wells draw. Nonetheless, Stef is extra rested, and this slower onerous court docket provides him time to wind up his backhand.
Gamers to observe:QF: Alcaraz, Rune, Medvedev, TsitsipasSF: Alcaraz, MedvedevW: Alcaraz
On the ladies’s facet, world primary and Indian Wells defending champion Iga Swiatek’s draw seems a tad bumpier than regular. Potential opponents in her part embrace a pair of former U.S. Open champs in Bianca Andreescu and Emma Raducanu.
Each Andreescu and Raducanu have clearly struggled to search out the shape that introduced them a Grand Slam, however style-wise they need to be capable of grasp with Swiatek on day. Iga and Emma performed as soon as in Stuttgart on the top of Swiatek’s dominance, and the rating was solely 6-4, 6-4 to the Pole. As a result of Raducanu takes the ball early, if she doesn’t spray, it presents extra of a problem for Iga. That stated, this gradual onerous court docket of Indian Wells hasn’t confirmed to be Emma’s floor but.
Extra of a problem for Swiatek may be Beatrice Haddad Maia who beat her in Canada on onerous court docket final yr. Additional down the quarter, Danielle Collins and Caroline Garcia lurk as potentialities to come back out of this quarter.
Quantity 4 seed Ons Jabeur has a extra favorable draw, and he or she’ll want it as she returns to the tour after what she referred to as “minor surgical procedure.” Although she hasn’t performed for the reason that Australian Open, Jabeur shouldn’t fret till the third spherical the place she may face Italian Martina Trevisan. It will get considerably extra sophisticated later with Victoria Azarenka, Elena Rybakina and 2021 Indian Wells Champion Paula Badosa. Circle Rybakina and Badosa as a possible enjoyable third spherical tilt of hard-hitting stars.
The participant I’m actually excessive on is Jessica Pegula, who doesn’t have something to fret about till a possible 4th spherical matchup with Jelena Ostapenko. Even then, I feel that’s an unfavorable matchup for Penko– you want persistence to play within the desert. Additionally on this quarter, Maria Sakkari may face grinder Anhelina Kalinina within the third spherical.
Lastly, Coco Gauff and Aryna Sabalenka bookend the final quarter. Aryna may discover that the slower courts right here and typically windy situations take the chew off her serve. That’s why I like Gauff at Indian Wells. She’s mover and premier returner. An intriguing potential all-American third spherical could possibly be Gauff in opposition to Amanda Anisimova.
As well as, Sabalenka has drawn issue. She’s bought Donna Vekic and one of the dangerously constant gamers on tour on this eighth: Barbora Krejcikova.
Gamers to observe:QF: Swiatek, Rybakina, Pegula, KrejcikovaSF: Swiatek, PegulaW: Pegula
