Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal flew on the same plane from Spain to Los Angeles earlier this weekend as they get ready for next month’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Nadal, of course, lives in Mallorca and has been training at his academy since recovering from an injury aggravation during his season-opening tournament in Brisbane. Djokovic was practicing at the Puente Romano Tennis Club in Marbella. Both players are in the United States for the upcoming BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, which kicks off the annual “Sunshine Double” and is followed by another Masters 1000 event in Miami.
Nadal is also scheduled for an exhibition next week in Las Vegas with Carlos Alcaraz.
“Great company on the way to USA,” Djokovic wrote on social media with the hashtags #vamos and #idemo.
Djokovic is making his first Indian Wells appearance since 2019. The top-ranked Serb has captured the title in the desert on five occasions (2008, 2011, 2014-16). He has not played since losing to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the Australian Open semifinals.
Nadal is a three-time winner of the Indian Wells Masters (2007, 2009, 2013). The 37-year-old Spaniard also reached the final in 2011 and 2022. He has played one event in 2024 after missing almost all of last season because of hip injury, advancing to the Brisbane quarters before falling to Jordan Thompson.
“My [main] objective is to get to the clay season in the best possible way,” Nadal said in an interview for a Spanish media outlet earlier this month. “I hope to be in Indian Wells. It will possibly be the last time I play it and it is a very special tournament for me.”
let’s get this party started
It’s good news!
The bad news is that Anhelina Kalinina had to retire during her match in Austin. 18-year-old Czech Sara Bejlek will take Kalinina’s place.
Anhelina’s left leg is the problem. It is the same injury she had last year in Rome.
Kalinina is still in
Watching exhibition match between Rafa and Carlos. The atmosphere is electric, wish I was there!! 😃
Vamos Rafa!!
Next time, Rafa!! But was a great match!! He knows that he needs to improve on, serves for sure 😃 but he had some great vintage shots!!
Vamos Rafa!!
good match. Nadal hit some forehand rockets, including down match point.
Yes, this one was a beauty, lol!!! But he made some uncharacteristic errors, guess it will take some time to shake off the rust 😩