Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz served up one of many stand-out matches of the tennis 12 months up to now and now the 2 giants of the lads’s recreation could possibly be set for an additional assembly after an exciting draw for the primary ATP Masters 1000 occasion of the season.
Djokovic defied the percentages to beat his younger rival Alcaraz within the quarter-finals of the Australian Open in January, with the 37-year-old pulling off a masterful tactical efficiency to be the reigning 21-year-old French Open and Wimbledon champion.
Now Djokovic and Alacarz could possibly be set to resume their rivalry within the Californian desert, however there could possibly be an equally eye-catching encounter mendacity in anticipate the Serbian earlier than that.
After an initially rocky begin to their relationship, Djokovic and Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios have developed a powerful bond during the last couple of years and the duo couldn’t be heading in the right direction to play towards one another for the primary time since their Wimbledon ultimate nearly three years in the past.
Kyrgios is making ready to play in his first ATP Masters 1000 match since he appeared in Cincinnati in 2022 and he’ll play in Indian Wells after being handed a wild card.
In what could possibly be a repeat of their Australian Open quarter-final, Djokovic and Alcaraz are attributable to meet within the final eight at Indian Wells.
Previous to that, Djokovic might want to get previous Kyrgios, earlier than a possible third spherical conflict towards both the in-form pair of Francisco Cerundolo or Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Alex de Minaur or Hubert Hurkacz could also be Djokovic’s opponent in spherical 4 forward of that potential match towards Alcaraz.
Djokovic and Alcaraz are within the reverse half of the draw to Alexander Zverev, who takes the highest seeded place in Indian Wells as world No 1 Jannik Sinner is absent as he’s serving his suspension from tennis following his failed drug check at this occasion final 12 months.
Tallon Griekspoor or Miomir Kecmanovic will probably be Zverev’s first spherical opponent in his opening match, with Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard a potential third spherical opponent and the in-form Tomas Machac or Frances Tiafoe a potential match-up within the fourth spherical.
Stefanos Tsitsipas is seeded to tackle Zverev within the final eight after his spectacular return to type as he received in Dubai final week, with Daniil Medvedev at all times a harmful participant in Indian Wells additionally in Zverev’s part of the draw and a possible semi-final opponent.
Extra Tennis Information
Did Andy Murray give Novak Djokovic the tactical plan to beat Carlos Alcaraz?
“Alcaraz is the defending champion, he’s going for the three-peat. Solely Federer and Djokovic have managed that within the historical past of this match, so it’s not going to be straightforward,” revered broadcaster Marcus Buckland advised Tennis365 as he made his Indian Wells predictions.
“He doesn’t fairly have that aura for the time being that he constructed up at the beginning of his profession, as he has been somewhat extra inconsistent of late, however I’d have him as my favorite.
“I’ve bought a sense Medvedev goes to have an excellent match. Medvedev has an excellent file on this match. He has made the ultimate at Indian Wells during the last couple of years and tends to thrive within the circumstances in Indian Wells.
“It will even be nice to see one of many People going deep as effectively. They’ve six gamers within the seeded positions proper now and Taylor Fritz is the participant who may go effectively right here.
“He received Indian Wells a few years again, however the query is over the place he’s together with his health.
“One other one to look out for is Ben Shelton as he ought to thrive in these circumstances together with his massive serve and the American crowd behind him.”
Projected males’s quarter-finals:
(1) Zverev vs. (8) Tsitsipas
(4) Ruud vs. (5) Medvedev
(7) Rublev vs. (3) Fritz
(6) Djokovic vs. (2) Alcaraz
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