Indian Wells: Djokovic could play Kyrgios; Fonseca, Tien ones to watch in early rounds
Carlos Alcaraz could face Denis Shapovalov early on as he looks to defend his title
AI/Reuters/Panoramic
The draw for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, has thrown up a number of fascinating first-round battles and one second-round match that, if it happens, would have crowds flocking to the court early to take their seats.
Former world No 1 Novak Djokovic could play Nick Kyrgios, returning from injury again, in the second round, if the Australian gets there, having drawn a qualifier in round one.
Djokovic is in the bottom half of the draw, seeded sixth, and won’t have things easy early on, with Francisco Cerundolo in his section and then Alex de Minaur likely to be waiting in the fourth round.
See full men’s singles draw
Alcaraz could play Shapovalov
Second seed Carlos Alcaraz could play in-form Canadian Denis Shapovalov in the third round, a tough battle at the best of times but especially now, with Shapovalov having won the title in Dallas last month.
The defending champion, seeded No 2 behind Alexander Zverev, is the favourite for the title in the absence of world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who is serving a three-month drugs ban.
Alcaraz would have to play Djokovic in the last eight, a repeat of their Australian Open battle in January, which the Serbian won, only for injury to see him quit after one set of the semis.
Top seed Zverev opens against either Tallon Griekspoor of the Netherlands or Miomir Kecmanovic of Serbia, but with Stefanos Tsitsipas and Tomas Machac, both of whom are coming off a title, in his section, getting to the latter stages won’t be easy.
Fonseca, Tien have chances to shine
Joao Fonseca and Learner Tien, both of whom burst onto the scene with big wins at the Australian Open, have the chance to shine again in their first Masters 1000 outings.
Fonseca, who beat Tien to win the Next Gen Finals last year and who beat Andrey Rublev in round one in Melbourne, plays Britain’s Jacob Fearnley, with another Briton, 13th seed Jack Draper, waiting in the second round.
Tien, who upset Daniil Medvedev in round one in Australia, plays Mariano Navone for the right to take on another American, Ben Shelton.
The men’s singles event begins on Wednesday.
