The first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season, the BNP Paribas Open, will be played from March 9 to March 19 in Indian Wells.
World no.2 Novak Djokovic is a defending champion. The 2008, 2011 and 2014-16 titlist is a second seed and has a first-round BYE. He will open campaign against either Kyle Edmund (GBR, ATP #46) or Gastao Elias (POR, ATP #95) in round two.
Novak’s potential opponents in the later stages of the tournament are:
3rd round: Juan Martin del Potro (ARG, 31)
4th round: Nick Kyrgios (AUS, 15), Alexander Zverev (GER, 18)
Quarter-finals: Rafael Nadal (ESP, 5), Roger Federer (SUI, 9)
Semi-finals: Kei Nishikori (JPN, 4), Marin Cilic (CRO, 6), Grigor Dimitrov (BUL, 12)
Andy Murray (GBR, 1), Stan Wawrinka (SUI, 3), Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA, 7), Dominic Thiem (AUT, 8), Gael Monfils (FRA, 10) … are in the top half of the draw.
Last year, Novak captured a record fifth Indian Wells Masters title, beating Milos Raonic in the final 6-2, 6-0.
This will be Nole’s 12th appearance at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. He comes into the event with a 9-2 match record in 2017.
The 29-year-old Belgrade native has won 30 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophies. He is bidding to capture his 68th career crown and second title of the season.
Photo: Getty Images
