The first Masters 1000 of the season starts this Thursday in Indian Wells, which has already made the draw for the main draw and in which the most striking thing is the continuity of Novak Djokovic, despite the fact that not being vaccinated he could not play the tournament. The organization is waiting for the Center for Disease Control and Prevention to give it the go-ahead to enter the country. Rafa Nadal is pursuing his fourth title in California, although the Balearic Islands have not had an easy road: he will debut against one of the young talents on the circuit, Sebastian Korda, or a player from the previous one. In addition, Daniel Evans, Shapovalov, Jannik Sinner or Daniil Medvedev appear as hypothetical rivals. With the Serbian it would be seen in the final.
This morning the draw for the Indian Wells tournament was held with the surprising continuity of Novak Djokovic in the main draw, despite the fact that as he was not vaccinated he would not have the possibility of entering the United States or playing in the tournament. However, the player was still registered on the list of players at the time of the draw and the organization kept his name on it, waiting to confirm whether or not he will be able to play the first Masters 1000 of the season.
«Novak Djokovic is on the list of previous entries in the tournament, and that is why he is in the draw for this Tuesday. We are in talks with your team; however, it has not been established whether you will be able to participate in the event through an approval from the CDC (Center for Disease Control and Prevention) to access the country, ”said a statement from the Indian Wells Masters 1000, which in this edition recovers its usual date, after last year it was held in October due to the pandemic. “We will give new information as soon as we know more,” they added.
Waiting for definitive confirmation about the presence of Novak Djokovic, who will appear with full certainty is Rafa Nadal, undefeated this season. The Spaniard reappears in Indian Wells after missing last year’s edition -it was not held in 2020-, and the Spaniard already knows that he will not have an easy path in his search for his fourth title in 2022. The champion in 2007, 2009 and 2013 will debut in the second round against Sebastian Korda or a player from the previous one.
In the third round, Daniel Evans would predictably be measured, while Opelka or Shapovalov would be his most likely rivals in the round of 16. In the quarterfinals, two other young talents appear as possible rivals: Jannik Sinner or Casper Ruud, while in the semifinals they could run into Daniil Medvedev, current number one on the circuit, as long as Carlos Alcaraz does not surprise, whose path with the Balearic would join in the fight for the final. In case of following the Serbian, they would see each other in a hypothetical final.
The way of the Spanish in Indian Wells
Carlos Alcaraz has been nailed to the top of the Indian Wells table, like Rafa Nadal. The Murcian is playing the Californian tournament for the second time in his career and will face the winner of the match between Mackenzie McDonald and Marton Fucsovic, while in the third round he could have a fratricidal duel with Roberto Bautista. The one from Castellón will debut against Hugo Gaston or a player from the previous one.
Pablo Carreño will start against a rival from the previous one, like Pedro Martínez . Pablo Andújar will face Fabio Fognini; Roberto Carballés to Jenson Brooksby; and Alejandro Davidovich to Borna Coric.
