The first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season, the BNP Paribas Open, will be played from March 9 to March 20 in Indian Wells.
World no.1 Novak Djokovic is a defending champion. The 2008, 2011, 2014 and 2015 titlist is a top seed and has a first-round BYE. He will open campaign against ATP no.149 Bjorn Fratangelo (USA, Q) in the second round.
Novak’s potential rivals in the later stages of the tournament are:
3rd round: Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER, 27)
4th round: Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP, 14), Feliciano Lopez (ESP, 18)
Quarter-finals: Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA, 7), Dominic Thiem (AUT, 11)
Semi-finals: Rafael Nadal (ESP, 4), Kei Nishikori (JPN, 5), John Isner (USA, 9), Gilles Simon (FRA, 16), Grigor Dimitrov (BUL, 23)
Andy Murray (GBR, 2), Stan Wawrinka (SUI, 3), Tomas Berdych (CZE, 6), Richard Gasquet (FRA, 8)… are in the bottom half of the draw.
Last year, Novak won the BNP Paribas Open title for the fourth time beating Roger Federer 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2. It was his 50th career singles trophy.
This will be Novak’s 11th appearance at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden (42-6 record). He comes into the event with a 16-1 match record in 2016.
The 28-year-old Belgrade native has won 26 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies. He is bidding to capture his 62nd career crown and third title of the season.
Photo: AP
