Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are in the same quarter of the BNP Paribas Open draw. So, too, is Roger Federer. Juan Martin Del Potro is also there. Add Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Zverev to that list.
That’s right–only one out of Djokovic, Nadal, Federer, Del Potro, Kyrgios, and Zverev will even reach the semifinals in Indian Wells. Djokovic is on course to meet up with Del Potro in the third round, with the winner of that showdown likely to face whoever emerges from a possible Kyrgios vs. Zverev encounter. Nadal could run into fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco in the last 32 before a potential rematch of the Australian Open final against Federer in round four.
It goes without saying, of course, that the rest of the bracket is far less remarkable. In the other section of the bottom half, Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic are the two highest-seeded players. Two of the favorites to reach the semis, though, are Grigor Dimitrov and Jack Sock. Both Dimitrov and Sock–who would meet in the third round–already own two titles in 2017.
World No. 1 Andy Murray is sitting pretty at the top of the draw. Murray’s relatively weak quarter also includes Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, David Goffin, and Roberto Bautista Agut.
Stan Wawrinka and Dominic Thiem headline the second section of the bracket. Both Wawrinka and Thiem have been wildly inconsistent in recent months, so the door may be open for a challenger such as Gael Monfils, Tomas Berdych, or John Isner. Monfils and Isner, who never fail to wage entertaining battles against each other, could clash in round three.
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Interesting quarter. Let’s see who emerges from that quarter!
This draw is beyond intriguing. Del Po and Djoker possibly meeting third round. Kyrgios vs Zverev possible third round. Opelka and Tiafoe both drew qualifiers at the top so big opportunities for them. Also lots of good qualifiers left that could make some noise in the main draw like Nishioka Pospisil Rampras Kudla Basilashvili etc. Also Harrison has workable draw. And obviously that bottom quarter as a whole. Dang.
Wicked Draw. Rafa will get his win over Federer here. Delpo vs Djoko will be brutal
Rafa will lose to Verdasco before that
That’s quite unlikely. Rafa’s playing well and the conditions are not fast either.
We’ll see. Time for Rafa to get wins over those who beat him in the past two years. A long list – Verdasco, Fed, Djoko, Kei, Stan, Murray….