The 44th edition of the BNP Paribas Open provides an opportunity for the usual protagonists to continue their dominance on the men’s tour. With defending champion Juan Martin del Potro sidelined by injury, players will be battling it out for 1000 ranking points as well as $1,340,860 in prize money for the winner.
Here are five things to follow in the men’s draw this year.
Federer’s fight to stay in the top five
The day after winning his 100th title at the Dubai Tennis Championships, Roger Federer flew straight out to the Californian desert for his next challenge. The 37-year-old re-entered the top five this week, but faces a tough task in the coming weeks holding that position.
Seven out of the top 10 players on the ATP Tour are defending 45 or less points, however, for 2018 runner-up Federer he is defending 600 points. Meaning an early loss in the tournament will open the door for the likes of Kei Nishikori and Kevin Anderson to overtake him. To prevent this happening, the Swiss player needs to reach at least the quarter-finals this year to have a chance of staying in the top five.
This year is Federer’s 18th appearance in the Indian Wells main draw. A five-time champion, he has won 62 out of 74 matches played (84% winning rate). The last time he failed to reach the quarter-final stage was back in 2010.
How did the current top 10 fair in Indian Wells last year?
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Ranking
|
Player
|
Age
|
2018 result
|
|||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Novak Djokovic | 31 | Round two | |||||
| 2 | Rafael Nadal | 32 | Withdrew | |||||
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | 21 | Round two | |||||
| 4 | Roger Federer | 37 | runner-up | |||||
| 5 | Juan Martin del Potro | 30 | Champion | |||||
| 6 | Kevin Anderson | 32 | Quarter-finals | |||||
| 7 | Kei Nishikori | 29 | Withdrew | |||||
| 8 | Dominic Thiem | 25 | Round Three (retired) | |||||
| 9 | John Isner | 33 | Round two | |||||
| 10 | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 20 | Round two |
Can anybody defeat Djokovic?
https://twitter.com/DjokerNole/status/1102806438936698880
Novak Djokovic will return to action for the first time since winning the Australian Open in January. The world No.1 is the only player in history to win every Masters 1000 tournament at least once. Since his resurgence on the tour last summer, Djokovic has won five titles (three grand slams and two Masters).
During that time Djokovic has looked unbeatable during certain tournaments, but has also suffered defeats. Losing to Karen Khachanov in Paris last year, followed by Alexander Zverev at the ATP Finals. His only defeat so far in 2019 was to Roberto Bautista Agut in Qatar. Despite those losses, Djokovic remains the huge favourite heading into the event. He also has a prime opportunity to strengthen his number one ranking with only 10 points to defend from last year.
Should the Serbian prevail, he would tie Rafael Nadal’s record of 33 for most Masters 1000 titles won in the Open Era. Djokovic would also claim a record sixth Indian Wells title.
The Next Gen challenge
As the first Greek player in history to break into the ATP top 10 this week, 20-year-old Stefanos Tsitsipas will be hoping for a strong run. Defending only 25 points, the Australian Open semi-finalist made his debut in Indian Wells last year. Going out in the second round to Dominic Thiem. Tsitsipas will be seeded ninth in the draw.
Alexander Zverev is the only member of the Next Gen contingent to win multiple Masters 1000 titles. Furthermore, two out of those three trophies have occurred in North America. The German recently settled for runner-up at the Mexican Open to Nick Kyrgios. Zverev’s record at Indian Wells is far from spectacular after winning just four matches between 2016-2018. It is only of one two Masters events where he is yet to reach the quarter-finals.
Other next Gen players to look out for include Alex de Minaur, Denis Shapovalov and Frances Tiafoe. 18-year-old Felix Auger Aliassime, who is the youngest player in the top 100, has received a wildcard into the main draw.
Next gen players in the top 100 (ranked by age)
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Ranking
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Player
|
Age
|
||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 58 | Felix Auger-Aliassime | 18 | ||||||
| 25 | Denis Shapovalov | 19 | ||||||
| 10 | Stefanos Tsitsipas | 20 | ||||||
| 24 | Alex de Minaur | 20 | ||||||
| 66 | Ugo Humbert | 20 | ||||||
| 94 | Casper Ruud | 20 | ||||||
| 3 | Alexander Zverev | 21 | ||||||
| 35 | Frances Tiafoe | 21 | ||||||
| 46 | Taylor Fritz | 21 | ||||||
| 59 | Reilly Opelka | 21 | ||||||
| 61 | Jaume Munar | 21 |
Will Nadal maintain his strong record?
It has been six years since Rafael Nadal last triumph in Indian Wells. Overall, he has won 50 matches in the tournament to date since making his debut back in 2003. To put that into perspective, Indian Wells if his third most successful Masters event in terms of wins after Monte Carlo (68) and Rome (56).
The 11-time French Open champion is seeking to reach his second final of the tour in 2019. His current win-loss record the season stands at 7-2. He has won at least one ATP title every year since 2004.
“I know that the season is long. My first priority, more than winning titles or not, is to be happy. To be happy, I need to be healthy. I’m going to do the things that give me a better chance to be healthy more than anything. That’s the priority. If I am healthy, I am competitive, I am happy, I have the chance to win tournaments.” Nadal told reporters following the Australian Open final.
So far in his career, Nadal has achieved nine wins over top 10 players in Indian Wells.
Will Nick Kyrgios exceed or implode?
After a stellar performance last week, some are regarding the unpredictable Nick Kyrgios as a threat to the draw. The Australian defeated three top 10 players on route to winning Acapulco. His first ATP title since January 2018.
“It’s hopefully an example for people who are struggling and getting in some places you don’t think you can get out of. If I can do it, you can do it,” Kyrgios said following his triumph. “I was really down and out and didn’t know what I was going to do, but you have a week like this and things can change.”
Consistency has been an Achilles heel for the 23-year-old in recent months. Besides being hampered by numerous injury issues, Kyrgios has been criticised throughout his career for his controversial attitude on the court. The most recent being from Nadal, who said he lacks ‘respect.’ Something that was heavily disputed by Kyrgios himself.
“I need to be way more disciplined, way better professionally and do the right things,” Kyrgios admits.
A player that likes the big stages of the sport, it remains to see how Kyrgios will fair. It was at the 2017 edition of Indian Wells where he stunned both Zverev and Djokovic on route to the quarter-finals. Kyrgios missed last year’s tournament due to injury.
