At the Californian tournament, world number 1 Novak Djokovic will also be chasing the 99th title in his career.
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After the explosion of Jannick Sinner’s title at the Australian Open in January, tennis is catching its breath on the west coast of the United States, in Indian Wells, from Wednesday, March 6. With a renewed desire, on the men’s (Masters 1000) and women’s (WTA 1000) tables, continue to shake up the established order. Frenchman Ugo Humbert, today 14th in the world, is one of the rebels. Rafael Nadal, for his part, would like to return to his glory days. Here’s everything you need to know about this meeting.
Nadal, yes, but what condition is it in?
Apart from confiscation, unfortunately from now on constantly possibly with the Spaniard, who has learned to live with this component, Indian Wells should mark the return to competition of the man with 22 Grand Slam titles. On one or two legs? After playing three matches in Brisbane in January, he had to withdraw immediately from the Australian Open after suffering a muscle injury. Another setback after an almost empty season in 2023 for Mallorca, which is still struggling to regain its former body.
For what is likely to be his last professional season, the man now ranked 652 in the world wants above all to reconnect with the joy of playing, before aiming higher: Roland-Garros and the Olympics. He will have to calibrate against Canadian Milos Raonic as soon as he enters the clash, before perhaps better testing his physical stamina against Holger Rune in the second round. There is no doubt that Rafael Nadal, even if he hates defeat, would immediately sign for a result identical to that of the last participation, in 2022, when he was defeated in the final by Taylor Fritz.
Djokovic faces a furious pack led by Sinner
The victory of Jannick Sinner at the Australian Open, against the master for the semifinals, will inevitably sharpen the fangs of the young players. And Novak Djokovic, who hasn’t played since Melbourne, knows this: his room for maneuver tends to shrink. Although he has already won five times in Indian Wells (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015 and 2016.), the Serb does not arrive at the conquered field because he has not played there for five years, due to the lack of a valid anti-covid passport on American territory. This is a great opportunity for the world number 1 to hit the table and remind that he is still the boss. And collect the 99th title of his career that would shut the mouths of his young pursuers.
Just crowned in Melbourne, Jannick Sinner dreams of ringing Djokovic’s halal. Undefeated this season, the lanky Italian seems to have gained an advantage over the competition that one day wants to take the Serb’s place. California’s title holder, Carlos Alcaraz, has long been declared the heir to the throne, but the plan is being delayed. “With Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz now has a worthy opponent. He was there before, but after winning the Australian Open, his confidence increased tenfold. And I think we’re going to see some big fights between those two.”Toni Nadal snuck into the columns of AS daily (article in Spanish).
LThe arrival of Sinner, but above all the lack of convincing results since his Wimbledon title, made the highway promised to Alcaraz rather slippery. Especially since other cars want to take over vacuuming…
Humbert in the higher league
Among these new faces is that of Ugo Humbert. It’s not one you notice right away, as the Frenchman progressed gradually, but now it’s an integral part of the landscape. Firmly anchored at No. 14 in the world after winning in Dubai (sixth title in six finals), Humbert is now swimming with the big fish. But be careful, he could meet the shark Đoković in the round of 16.
A stadium where Paire, Cazaux and Gaston will not wait, all eliminated in the qualifiers. In addition to Humbert, France’s chances will especially be the eternal Gaël Monfils or the youth of Lucas Van Assche and Arthur Fils. A spectrum that is at least expanded when women have more reasons for believing in it. After falling to 26th in the WTA rankings, Caroline Garcia will try to regain her confidence after three first-round defeats in February, in Abu Dhabi, Doha and Dubai. Océane Dodin, Clara Burel, Diane Parry and Varvara Gracheva will try to break through behind her.
Venus Williams in stable condition, Swiatek, Gauff, Rybakina and Sabalenka in half position
Years go by and Venus Williams is still here. The star of the American (43) has not shone so intensely for a long time, but it still shines a little. Enough to admire and respect. The eldest Williams has nothing more to prove and sticks to the simple love of her sport. She, who has not played since the last US Open, will be in the front row and witness the announced fight between the favorites: Iga Swiatek, the world’s number 1 tennis player, Coco Gauff, ranked third, and Elena Rybakina, the title holder after last year’s victory in the final against the current number 2. world tennis player Aryne Sabalenka. These four represent the best chances to lift the trophy.