Rafael Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Naomi Osaka — the storylines to observe on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells

The potential for a Rafael Nadal vs. Daniil Medvedev semifinal showdown. A blockbuster Naomi Osaka–Sloane Stephens first-round matchup. A full-capacity crowd. And a relaxed desert vibe to go together with all of it.

It has been three years (!) because the BNP Paribas Open has been performed throughout its usually scheduled slot on the tennis calendar, however the occasion is again to its conventional March date — and the principle draw is about to get underway on Wednesday in Indian Wells, California.

The event was the primary occasion of the 2020 tennis season to be canceled as a result of pandemic, and the 2021 staging of the occasion was postponed till October.

In 2022, although, belief us after we say there’s a lot to be enthusiastic about — even with the absence of many large names. With stars and storylines to go round, this is what you’ll want to know coming into what many consult with because the 12 months’s “fifth main.”

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Ukrainian, Russian and Belarussian gamers within the draw

With so many gamers from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus, the Russian invasion of Ukraine will stay a central focus in Indian Wells, because it has all through the world.

Most of the Ukrainian gamers have been vocal about what’s taking place of their native nation, and pleaded for assist from the tennis group and governing our bodies. Elina Svitolina initially withdrew from her first match on the Monterrey Open final week as a result of she was taking part in Russian participant Anastasia Potapova. She asked for players from Russia and Belarus to be acknowledged as “impartial athletes,” and mentioned she would not play any participant from both nation till such motion was taken.

In response to such pleas, the WTA and ATP, in addition to the Grand Slams and the Worldwide Tennis Federation, introduced they might permit gamers from Russia and Belarus to take part however wouldn’t be taking part in beneath their international locations names or flags. Svitolina finally performed her match in opposition to Potapova, sporting the Ukrainian flag colours of blue and yellow, and her emotional response following her victory went viral.

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“I used to be on a mission for my nation,” Svitolina mentioned after the match. She finally reached the quarterfinals on the occasion and pledged to donate all of her earnings to the Ukrainian military.

Dayana Yastremska, who needed to flee from Ukraine with her younger sister as soon as the assault started, additionally said she would be donating all of her prize money from reaching the ultimate in Lyon final week, to the Ukrainian military. Yastremska was granted a last-minute wild card to play in Indian Wells.

On Tuesday, Andy Murray mentioned he would donate all of his prize cash this season to UNICEF’s efforts to assist kids in Ukraine.

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Daria Saville (previously Gavrilova), who superior to the principle draw by means of qualifying, urged her fellow gamers to put on blue and yellow in the course of the occasion to point out their assist. Saville, who lives in and represents Australia, was born in Russia and her mother and father are nonetheless there.

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Russian and Belarusian gamers within the draw embrace newly-crowned world No. 1 Medvedev, two-time main champion and 2021 Indian Wells finalist Victoria Azarenka, and fellow top-10 gamers Aryna Sabalenka and Andrey Rublev.

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No Novak, and different notable absences

Whereas he’s presently the No. 2 seed within the draw, Novak Djokovic‘s standing for the event stays unsure on account of his choice to not obtain the COVID-19 vaccine. The 20-time main champion had been hoping to play at Indian Wells however informed reporters in Dubai final month it did not look as if he would have the ability to enter the USA. He had but to remark additional as of Tuesday night time, however the event itself issued an announcement: “It has not been decided if he’ll take part within the occasion by getting CDC approval to enter the nation.”

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It is simply the newest public drama for Djokovic throughout what has already turn out to be a chaotic season. Following a authorized battle and a world media storm, Djokovic was deported from Australia in January after his visa was revoked by the Australian authorities.

He has since mentioned he could be prepared to skip majors sooner or later if a vaccine was required. “Sure, that’s the value that I am prepared to pay,” Djokovic told the BBC in February.

As a seeded participant he has a first-round bye and wouldn’t start play till Saturday on the earliest. He’s scheduled to play the winner of the opening-round match between Jordan Thompson and David Goffin.

Whereas his absence would definitely be probably the most polarizing, if he’s unable to attend, he could be simply one in every of many large names not making the journey this 12 months. World No. 1 and reigning Australian Open champion Ash Barty introduced she could be lacking each Indian Wells and Miami as a result of she hadn’t absolutely recovered from her championship run in Melbourne.

“I really like these occasions and am unhappy to not be there competing, however getting my physique proper have to be my focus,” Barty said in a statement.

Danielle Collins, who performed Barty within the Australian Open ultimate, can even miss the occasion with accidents. Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Roger Federer, Dominic Thiem, Bianca Andreescu and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova are all opting out as nicely. Barbora Krejcikova was the ladies’s prime seed in Barty’s absence however she withdrew on Tuesday, after the draw was introduced, on account of an elbow damage.

Paula Badosa and Cameron Norrie, the 2021 champions, can be competing, nevertheless, and can look to defend their titles.

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King of the hard-court?

Outstanding is an understatement for Rafael Nadal’s season to date. Along with that complete “Profitable the Australian Open and setting the document for many titles in Grand Slam historical past” factor, he is notched two different titles and has an ideal 16-Zero document on the 12 months.

Throughout the Mexico Open final month he did not drop a set, even in a semifinal conflict in opposition to Medvedev on his solution to the trophy.

So yeah, not too shabby for a man recognized for his dominance on clay — and never hard-court — and who was coping with a doubtlessly career-ending damage simply six months in the past.

Nadal enters the BNP Paribas Open ranked No. Four and as a three-time champion of the occasion. He final received within the desert in 2013 however was already proper at house as quickly as he arrived final week.

With momentum very a lot on his aspect, it appears misguided to wager in opposition to him at this level.

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Rising stars

Nadal is way from the one participant driving some severe momentum and trying to capitalize on current success. Some others to control:

Leylah Fernandez: The shock 2021 US Open finalist efficiently defended her Monterrey Open title on Sunday with an exhilarating three-set ultimate win over Camila Osorio by which she saved 5 match factors. Can the Canadian teen comply with up that epic of a efficiency with a dominant run right here? (In the event you watched her within the US Open, you already know the one reply to that’s, “Why not?”)

Felix Auger Aliassime: He lastly snapped his winless streak in ultimate appearances with the primary ATP title of his profession at Rotterdam final month with a straight-set victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas. The Canadian adopted that up with one more ultimate look on the Open 13 the following week. His breakthrough to the highest of the game has appeared inevitable for a while, however that point very nicely is likely to be now.

Andrey Rublev: The world No. 7 defeated Auger Aliassime for the Open 13 title and he then adopted that up by profitable the doubles crown (with Denys Molchanov) and incomes one more singles title the following week in Dubai. He’s taking part in a number of the most constant tennis of his profession and brings a nine-match win streak to California. The Russian wrote “No struggle please” on the digicam following his semifinal victory in Dubai.

Jelena Ostapenko: The 2017 French Open champion is having a resurgent season and received the Dubai title final month by defeating 4 Grand Slam winners en path to the ultimate. She reached the semis in Qatar the following week and now holds her highest rating (No. 12) since 2018.

Iga Swiatek: The 2020 Roland Garros champ was dominant in Qatar, defeating three top-10 gamers and dropping only one set en path to her fourth profession title. She is now ranked a career-high No. 4, and with Barty’s absence over the following two tournaments, together with in Miami the place she is the defending champion, Swiatek might make it fascinating among the many prime of the rankings.

Sloane Stephens: The previous US Open champion received her first match of the 12 months in Guadalajara final month — after which went on to win her first WTA title since 2018 on the event. Her celebration posts must be purpose alone to need her to have a deep run at Indian Wells. But it surely will not be straightforward. First up for Stephens is Naomi Osaka.

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Osaka, Murray and Kenin: The comeback youngsters

After a difficult 2021 season, Osaka made her return to the courtroom Down Underneath in January because the defending champion on the Australian Open. Her third-round exit brought on her rating to plummet to No. 85 and she or he initially wanted a wild card for entry in Indian Wells. (With Camila Giorgi‘s withdrawal on account of damage, Osaka moved into the principle draw by way of direct entry earlier this week. Yastremska acquired the open wild-card spot.)

Osaka hasn’t performed since Australia so it stays to be seen how match-ready she can be. However the four-time main champion stays among the finest on this planet on hard-court when she’s at her finest, and appeared to have rediscovered her joy for the sport in Melbourne.

Osaka received the title right here in 2018, and is taking part in near her Los Angeles house, so Indian Wells might very simply be the positioning of her return to championship type. And if that occurs, good luck to all of her opponents. They’ll want it.

Osaka is not the one former main champion who has struggled just lately and wanted a wild card to play within the occasion. Sofia Kenin, who received the Australian Open in 2020, noticed her rating fall into the 90s after a first-round loss in Melbourne in January. She has but to document a win since, having misplaced in her openers in each Dubai and Qatar. She’s now ranked No. 130 and is desperately making an attempt to salvage her already nightmarish season.

Three-time main champion and fan favourite Murray additionally acquired a wild card to play within the occasion as he continues his lengthy comeback from hip surgical procedure. Murray reached the third spherical on the event in 2021, however actually made his mark on the occasion after he publicly shared the story of his lost wedding ring in a saga that gripped the tennis world.

He is undoubtedly hoping to fare higher on and off the courtroom this 12 months.