Each year, it seems that there is something different at the Open of BNP Paribas. An icon retires, a star comes back, a rising star is a race or another seeks to make history.
This year is more in the same way, in that everything seems a little different from what he did a year ago. But the scenarios, once again, are quite obvious at the start of the Wells Indian tournament this year.
Looking at the men’s field, five scenarios stand out. They will shape the story of the 2025 event and probably keep the fans on their guard as the tournament takes place from March 2 to 16 at Wells Tennis Garden.
Here is what we consider to be the biggest scenarios of this year’s tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz’s quest for the three peat
Admittedly, one of the greatest scenarios is whether the Spanish tennis star Carlos Alcaraz will win a third title of consecutive open BNP Paribas. The Indian Wells Three-Peat only took place twice before, by Novak Djokovic (2014-16) and Roger Federer (2004-06). Djokovic was 28 years old when he did and Federer was 24 years old. Alcaraz is only 21 years old.
With Jannik Sinner, the best ranked suspended and Djokovic in return from an injury to the hamstrings, Alcaraz must be considered clear favorite.
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However, successfully directing the Gauntlet, a third consecutive third time is intimidating. It will not be easy, and time will tell us if Alcaraz will be his name in history during this emblematic tournament.
The return of Novak Djokovic from injury
Djokovic is expected to return to Indian Wells again this year. He lost his first match at Indian Wells last March, after not having played the event since 2019. So it’s been a while since Djokovic has even won a match at the BNP Paribas Open.
How will he perform, returning from the injury suffered from the Australian Open, when he has played a single match (Doha) since?
Remember that Djokovic is an icon and won five titles to Indian Wells, tied with Federer during most time. The 37 -year -old Serbian tennis star knows how to win in the dry conditions of the desert and will surely be ready to run. But that will probably be summed up to be able to know if his body will allow him.
The title of prosecution of Alexander Zverev on the Indian wells
Alexander Zverev, 27, will be the seeded of the draw with a sinner. How will the German will manage the pressure of being the seed during such a big tournament?
It is an obvious scenario. There is also another, and it is if Zverev can run in the California desert. Although he reached the quarter-finals twice, including last year, Zverev never reached the semi-finals at Indian Wells. It may be the year it happens.
There is also a scenario where Zverev is not able to capitalize on what should be a relatively easy path to the semi-finals, taking into account his sowing. How he does it should be something to watch.
Daniil Medvedev’s potential redemption
The Russian has reached the final of the last two years in Indian Wells, to fall to Alcaraz. To make consecutive finals, however, it is impressive and you have to ask yourself if Medvedev has the impression that he has unfinished affairs here.
Medvedev, 29, enters the Indian wells classified sixth. Without a sinner and with the uncertainty of the health and the packaging of Djokovic, Medvedev’s opportunity to reach the final again is very favorable.
But Medvedev has only 6-4 this season and did not leave at the start that he was a year ago, when he won 14 of his first 17 games. Maybe he starts a race at Indian Wells, where his game is ideal for court conditions.
The chances of American men are strong
Taylor Fritz, the BNP Paribas Open 2022 champion, is classified fourth in the world and Tommy Paul is ranked 10th. Ben Shelton (14), Frances Tiafoe (18) and Sebastian Korda (23) Give American men five players In the top 25.
Last August, the Americans had five players in the top 20 for the first time since 1997. Thus, the domain of American men has been as strong as they have been for some time, and it looks like a year that one or two of them will be in the semi-finals.
Paul reached the semi-finals here a year ago. Tiafoe reached the semi-finals in 2023. This group knows these rigid currents at Indian Wells, and it would not be shocking to see two of them correspond in the final. We will see.
Andrew John covers the open BNP Paribas for the Sun desert and the USA TODAY network. Send him an email to [email protected]. Find it on Bluesky in [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: BNP Paribas Open: Carlos Alcaraz, Novak Djokovic Top Men’s Indian Wells Storylines
