Match organizers have been on pins and needles because the BNP Paribas Open males’s draw unfolded Monday afternoon on the Indian Wells Tennis Backyard, and that was due to one fashionable title that was to be positioned randomly within the draw: Rafael Nadal.
Nadal, one of many recreation’s all-time legends, missed most of 2023 with a hip harm and consequently shouldn’t be among the many 32 seeded gamers who’ve a protected spot within the draw. So Nadal’s title might’ve popped up as Novak Djokovic or Carlos Alcaraz‘s first opponent of the match, which might’ve been the match’s worst nightmare. However everybody can breathe slightly simpler.
Nadal, winner of twenty-two Grand Slams and a three-time champion at Indian Wells, will begin by taking part in Milos Raonic, a former finalist right here, on Thursday night time. If Nadal wins, he would then have a really powerful second-round match towards the No. 7 seed Holger Rune.
If getting previous Rune weren’t tough sufficient, ought to Nadal make a miracle run and win this match, he’d must undergo a assassin’s row that will additionally embody Taylor Fritz within the spherical of 16, Daniil Medvedev within the quarterfinals, Novak Djokovic within the semifinals and Carlos Alcaraz within the ultimate if seeds maintain.
The place Nadal fell within the 96-player area was actually the dramatic a part of the ceremony, which drew a pleasant crowd exterior Stadium 1 on the Indian Wells Tennis Backyard and featured American participant Christopher Eubanks speaking to the followers about his wonderful 2023. It wasn’t the one attention-grabbing reveal.
No. 1 seed Novak Djokovic, again within the area for the primary time since 2019, drew a good path. He might see American Tommy Paul within the spherical of 16, Casper Ruud within the quarterfinals and Daniil Medvedev within the semifinals. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner, the No. 2 and No. 3 seeds, are within the different half of the draw.
Matches we would wish to see
Now that the draw is obvious, listed below are a number of early-round matchups that we’re hoping come to fruition:
Tiafoe vs. Tsitsipas: Frances Tiafoe who had his finest run at Indian Wells final 12 months, making it to the semifinals, is lined as much as play Stefanos Tsitsipas within the third spherical. Tiafoe is seeded No. 18 and Tsitsipas, a former prime three participant on the planet, each play an athletic all-over-the-court type and may make for an entertaining match.
Murray vs. Rublev: Taking part in for his sixteenth time at Indian Wells, Andy Murray intimated that he might name it a profession later this summer season. The tennis draw gods did not smile down on Murray, giving him a tough draw. He’ll open his marketing campaign towards a qualifier within the first spherical, possible Wednesday, however then will instantly play the No. 5 seed Andrey Rublev within the second spherical.
Alcaraz vs. Auger-Aliassime: The younger Canadian participant Felix Auger-Aliassime who rose all the best way to No. 6 on the planet at one level, has had a tricky time sustaining the magic within the final 12 months or so, and has dropped all the way down to No. 31 on the planet. If he can win his first match which will probably be towards a qualifier, he is lined as much as play No. 2 seed Carlos Alcaraz within the third spherical. No deal with of a draw, however for a man in want of a formidable win, that would definitely qualify.
How the quarterfinals form up
Right here is how the highest eight gamers within the area would match up if all of them make it to the quarterfinals.
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No. 1 Novak Djokovic vs. No. 8 Hubert Hurkcacz
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No. 4 Daniil Medvedev vs. No. 7 Holger Rune
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No. 3 Jannik Sinner vs. No. 5 Andrey Rublev
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No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz vs. No. 6 Sasha Zverev
Djokovic vs. Medvedev are lined as much as be one semifinal and Alcaraz vs. Sinner within the different.
This text initially appeared on Palm Springs Desert Solar: BNP Paribas Open males’s draw: Rafael Nadal opens with Milos Raonic
