Indian Wells doubles wish list

Approaching rapidly on the ATP World Tour schedule, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is currently just one month away. For a couple of the top players in the world, it could mark their next appearance. Andy Murray and his wife just welcomed their first child and he will not play until action heats up in the California desert. Roger Federer is sidelined for February by a knee injury but hopes to return in Indian Wells.

While Federer may be a question mark, this much is not: the BNP Paribas Open will feature the most fun doubles draw of the entire season.

Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish lifted the trophy in 2009; Rafael Nadal is a two-time doubles champion; Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock triumphed last season. Pairings the last two years include the following: Federer-Wawrinka, Ciic-Del Potro, Raonic-Gulbis, Nadal-Carreno Busta, Murray-Kokkinakis, Monfils-Monaco, Ferrer-Verdasco, and Fish-Dimitrov.

What might be on tap in Indian Wells for 2016? Here are some doubles pairings that may not happen…but should!

Andy Murray-Lukas Rosol: According to Murray, everyone hates Rosol. According to evidence, that may not be the case. Rosol played 19 doubles tournaments in 2015 with 13 different partners.

Novak Djokovic-Gilles Simon: If you can’t beat ’em (despite 100 unforced errors), join ’em.

Juan Martin Del Potro-Tommy Haas: These guys were revered even before they were cut down by injuries. Haas is 500 years old. Del Potro has had 500 wrist surgeries. They’ll be loved even more when they come back.

Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal: This has to happen at least once before they retire.

Dominic Thiem-Roberto Bautista Agut: Would Gulbis and Thiem still be a thing if Thiem became a traitor and played doubles with his best friend’s worst enemy?

John Isner-Nicolas Mahut: Forever linked.

Stan Wawrinka-Nick Kyrgios: Of course.

Thanaski Kokkinakis-Antonio Veic: Kokkinakis will try to sign up for mixed (even though it doesn’t exit in Indian Wells) with Vekic and end up signing in for men’s doubles with Veic.

Bernard Tomic-Jarkko Nieminen: One, it would bring Nieminen out of retirement. Two, it would reunite the protagonists of the fastest completed match in tennis history.

Ryan Harrison-Christian Harrison: And not just because they’re brothers. It would be great to see Christian back at an ATP tournament.

Alexander Zverev-Mischa Zverev: They just finished runner-up in Montpellier. Keep the momentum going, boys.

Elias Ymer-Mikael Ymer: I can’t imagine either one is good at doubles (at least not yet), but it would still be plenty entertaining.

Aljaz Bedene-Andraz Bedene: Not sure if Andraz is still on the tour. But he should come back for Indian Wells to keep this proposed brother trend going.

Benjamin Becker-Boris Becker: One wanted to end Andre Agassi’s career. One actually did end Andre Agassi’s career? And yes, they have the same last name.

Joao Sousa-Joao Souza: It wouldn’t be as laughable as when they played against each other last summer in Geneva (that was a chair umpire’s nightmare). But it would still be awesome.

Jack Sock-Vasek Pospisil: Now this is one we’ll actually get!

Dustin Brown-Gael Monfils: It’s happened before.

Gilles Muller-Viktor Troicki: If you put them together, do they become Gilles Troicki?

Malek Jaziri-Jonathan Erlich: What would the Tunisian Tennis Federation do?

Fernando Verasco-David Marrero: They would definitely lose the first set and they would definitely lose the match. Only the second set would be a potential win.

Ivo Karlovic-Dudi Sela: Always a good time when the discrepancy in heigh between two partners is one foot, two inches.

Ernests Gulbis-Kristaps Porzingis: Gulbis has enough money to buy the tournament from Larry Ellison. He certainly has enough money to bribe Ellison into giving him a doubles wild card even with a partner who is not a registered ATP player. Team Latvia would probably lose 6-0, 6-0 to anyone but would be a huge hit with fans.

Rajeev Ram-Pete Sampras: If you watching this pair from way high up in the stadium, you may not be able to tell which one is serving. Sampras is ancient and Ram can’t hit groundstrokes, but these guys could still probably hold serve.

Radek Stepanek-Janko Tipsarevic: One of the handshakes that will never be forgotten.

Kei Nishikori-Yoshihito Nishioka: I feel like Mohamed Lahyani would have a grand time umpiring this match. “Game, Nishikori-Nishioka!”

Benoit Paire-Noah Rubin: Paire thinks Rubin is not good at tennis. But does that apply only to singles, or also to doubles?

Taylor Fritz-Nicolas Kicker: Fritz is the best racket-kicker on tour. So why not play with the best Kicker on tour?

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