Indian Wells preview: Men’s Singles

Indian Wells preview: Men’s Singles

The draw for Indian Wells brings the top players in the world, with such a storied history, many players have made their mark. There are many ways to look for a favourite.
 
Previous winners
Dominic Thiem 
-Austria
-28 years old
-World No.8
-One Grand Slam (US Open 2020)
-One Indian Wells victory (2019) over Federer in the final
-First competed in 2014
-Wrist injury this year
-Won’t compete
 


Juan Martin Del Potro
-Argentina
-33 years old
-Outside top 500
-One Grand Slam (US Open 2009)
-One Indian Wells victory (2018) over Federer in the final
-Two Finals, lost to Nadal (2013)
-First competed in 2007
-Knee injury
-Won’t compete
 


Roger Federer
-Switzerland
-40 years old
-World No.9
-20 grand slams (6x AUS, 1x RG, 8x Wim, 5x US)
-Five Indian Wells victories, defeated Wawrinka (2017), defeated Isner (2012), defeated Blake (2006), defeated Hewitt (2005), defeated Henman (2004)
-Nine Finals, lost to Thiem (2019), lost to Del Potro (2018),  lost to Djokovic (2015), lost to Djokovic (2014)
-First competed in 2002
-Knee injury
-Won’t compete
 


Rafael Nadal
-Spain
-35 years old
-World No.6
-20 grand slams (1x AUS, 13x RG, 2x Wim, 4x US)
-Three Indian Wells victories, defeated Del Potro (2013), defeated Murray (2009), defeated Djokovic (2007)
-Four finals, lost to Djokovic (2011)
-First competed in 2004
-Foot injury
-Won’t compete
 


Novak Djokovic 
-Serbia
-34 years old
-World No.1
-20 grand slams (9x AUS, 2xRG, 6x Wim, 3x US)
-Five Indian Wells victories, defeated Raonic (2016), defeated Federer (2015), defeated Federer (2014), defeated Nadal (2011), defeated Fish (2009)
-Six Finals, lost to Nadal (2007)
-First competed in 2006
-Strong season, three slam victories and a final
-Hard US Open
-Potentially fatigued
-Would have been one of the favourites before his withdrawal


Former Finalists
Milos Raonic 
-Canada
-30 years old
-World No. 33
-2016 Wimbledon finalist
-One Indian Wells final, lost to Djokovic (2016)
-Poor season
-Not on player list


Andy Murray
-Great Britain
-34 years old
-Outside top 100
-Three Grand Slams (2xWim, 1xUS)
-One Indian Wells final, lost to Nadal (2009)
-Still on comeback from hip injury
-Not on player list


 
Stan Wawrinka
-Switzerland
-36 years old
-World No. 46
-Three Grand Slams (1x AUS, 1xRG, 1xUS)
-One Indian Wells final, lost to Federer (2017)
-Recovering from foot injury
-Last minute withdrawal


 
John Isner 
-USA
-36 years old
-World No. 21
-2018 Wimbledon semifinalist
-One Indian Wells final, lost to Federer (2012)
-Poor us open, strong member of team world at the Laver Cup
-Can make a deep run


Top 5 players
Daniil Medvedev
-Russia
-24 years old
-World No.2
-US Open winner (2021)
-Never gone beyond the third round
-Laver cup winner
-Good form
-One of the favourites
 


Alexander Zverev
-Germany
-24 years old
-World No. 4
-US Open Finalist (2020)
-Never gone beyond the fourth round
-Laver Cup winner
-Semi final US Open 2021
-Good form
-One of the favourites



Stefanos Tsitsipas 
-Greece
-23 years old
-World No. 3
-Roland Garros Finalist (2021)
-Never gone beyond the second round
-Tricky us open
-Laver cup winner
-Middling form
-Outside favourite


Andrey Rublev 
-Russia
-23 years old
-World No. 5
-Reached four Grand Slam quarter finals
-Never gone beyond the third round
-Laver cup winner, called MVP
-Good form
-Outside favourite


US Open Success Stories
Matteo Berrettini 
-Italy
-25 years old
-World No. 7
-Wimbledon finalist (2021)
-Never gone beyond second round
-Laver cup winner
-US Open Quarter final
-Good form
-Outside favourite


Felix Auger Aliassime
-Canada
-21 years old
-World No. 11
-US Open semi-finalist (2021)
-Never gone beyond the third round
-Good form
-Outsider


 
Lloyd Harris 
-South Africa
-24 years old
-World No. 32
-US Open quarter-finalist (2021)
-Never made it out of qualifying
-Good form
-Could make a good run


Carlos Alcaraz
-Spain
-18 years old
-World No. 38
-US Open quarter-finalist (2021)
-Never competed before
-Good form
-Could make a good run

Photos: USTA, Tennis Australia, Roger Parker, Anne Parker

Bill Scott

Recent Posts

Davis Cup Final to mark Nadal goodbye to tennis

Rafael Nadal will bring down the curtain on his career next month as he plays his…

3 weeks ago

Wimbledon lowers the boom on human linecalling

Wimbledon on Wednesday brought an end to human linecalling at the most traditional of the…

3 weeks ago

Djokovic rolls Cobolli as Shanghai fights to restore order

Novak Djokovic returned to action after waiting tow days to play as the rain-hit Shanghai…

4 weeks ago

Innocent umpiring error screws Stan in Shanghai

Stan Wawrinka may have been inadvertently short-changed during Monday's third-round loss at the Shanghai Masters…

4 weeks ago

Sinner sweeps Fritz to win US Open

Jannik Sinner schooled Taylor Fritz 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 to win his second Grand Slam title…

2 months ago

Sabalenka wins Open title for Grand Slam hat-trick

Aryana Sabalenka completed a Grand Slam title hat-trick on Saturday as she fought from 5-3…

2 months ago