Well India (USA) – New world rankings leader Daniil Medvedev will be the top seed in the first Masters 1000 of the season, at Indian Wells. However, Russia had to play under a neutral flag after the sporting sanctions in its country and also on Belarusian athletes, because of the war in Ukraine.

Medvedev made his debut against Australia’s Alexei Popyrin or rivals coming off the qualifiers. The closest seed is Frenchman Gael Monfils, 26th favorite, who awaits the winner of the Serbian duel between Filip Krajinovic and Dusan Lajovic. If he reaches the round of 16, the world number one could well overtake the Spanish players, both young Carlos Alcaraz and experienced Roberto Bautista Agut.

Medvedev’s quadrant still has England’s Cameron Norrie, the current tournament champion and seed 12th. He made his debut against Spain’s Pedro Martinez or a player coming off the qualifiers. Norrie could face Fabio Fognini of Italy, Pablo Andujar of Spain or Nikoloz Basilashvili of Georgia in the round of 16. Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas expects a winner between American Jack Sock and Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo, and can get past Karen Khachanov in the third round.

Nadal is on the same side of the lock

️ Round 2️⃣

Sebastian Korda has the chance to meet three-time BNP Paribas Open winner Rafael Nadal in the second round…#IndianWells pic.twitter.com/N6Bri7CHQl

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 8, 2022

On the same side of the bracket is Rafael Nadal, who will be seeded 4th at Indian Wells. The Spaniard awaits a match between American Sebastian Korda or a tennis player of similar quality. He could face England’s Daniel Evans in the third round, while Denis Shapovalov or Reilly Opelka could paint in the last 16.

The Spanish quarter still had Italy’s Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego, in addition to Norwegian seed Casper Ruud. Unbeaten this season, on 15 straight wins, Nadal has beaten Medvedev at the Australian Open and in Acapulco and could see the ranking leaders in the semifinals of Indian Wells again.

Despite the uncertainty, Djokovic leads 2
World number 2 and five-time champion Novak Djokovic remains listed and in the Indian Wells bracket, though uncertainty whether he will be able to play in the tournament or not, as it is unknown whether he will be able to enter the United States without proof of vaccination. If the Serb can play, he will make his debut against Belgium’s David Goffin or Australia’s Jordan Thompson, and could cross paths with Andy Murray or Alexander Bublik in the third round. In the same sector the keys are John Isner from North America and Diego Schwartzman from Argentina.

In the same quadrant as Djokovic is 7th seed Andrey Rublev, who is expecting a match between Dominik Koepfer of Germany and Benoit Paire of France. Rublev could face America’s Frances Tiafoe in the third round, as well as Aslan Karatsev or Hubert Hurkacz of Poland in the last 16.

World number 3 Alexander Zverev expects a match between Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov or American Tommy Paul. The German could face Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the third round, as well as Taylor Fritz or Pablo Carreño Busta in the last 16. The quadrant still has Felix Auger-Aliassime from Canada and Matteo Berrettini from Italy, as well as good names like Lloyd Harris and Marin Cilic.