Indian Wells, the first Masters of the year to start without Djokovic and Nadal. Alcaraz and Medvedev the favourites, Sinner leads the blue patrol

TO Indian Wells the big names in world tennis meet all together for the first time after the Australian Open in the first round of the Masters 1000 of the year. However, there will be no two of the most anticipated players: Rafa Nadal and Nole Djokovic. The Spaniard is still recovering after the 2nd degree injury to the iliopsoas muscle of his left leg suffered in Melbourne. The Serbian, on the other hand, did not obtain the necessary exemption given his unvaccinated status at Covid. We start on Wednesday 8th but to see the main big players involved we will have to wait for Friday 10th and Saturday 11th, when the second rounds of the two draws will be played. In both cases, in fact, the 32 seeds will benefit from a bye in the first round, making their debut directly in the second.

Alcaraz and Medvedev the favourites

The man to beat, on paper, is Carlos Alcaraz, dropped to no. 2, followed by Tsitsipas, Ruud And Fritzdefending champion. The real favorite, though, it seems Daniil Medvedev who is fresh off 14 straight wins on hard courts which earned him titles in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai. However, Italy also aspires to do well which, like last year, presents itself with at least 5 representatives at the starting line: Jannik Sinner, Lorenzo Musetti, Matteo Berrettini, Lorenzo Sonego and Fabio Fognini.

Sinner-Musetti, derby risk in the third round

sinner he arrives at the Californian appointment as the first Italian in the standings, with 12th place in the standings after the Rotterdam final lost against Medvedev and the triumph in Montpellier. The draw placed him in a difficult quarter where he could find himself musetti (in the 16′), Runes round of 16 and one between Fritz And De Minaur to the quarters. musettiwho comes with the best career ranking (18) will have to jump the obstacle represented by Thiem or Werewolf before the eventual derby.

Berrettini, unknown calf

From Berrettini the physical conditions after the retreat with Rune in Acapulco, down 6-0, 1-0, are especially worrying. The Roman, No. 22, contracted his right calf. Hopefully the problem will not reoccur during the tournament. In the draw he was placed in the lower part, in the fourth manned by Tsitsipas. In the way of him there are Norrie (#10 seed) and one between Tiafoe (14) and Dimitrov (21).

Sonego, an all uphill journey

Sonego, n. 60, comes without great results but with high-level matches in the legs. In Montpellier he surrendered in the quarterfinals to Sinner, in Rotterdam he had to bow to Auger-Aliassime, in Doah he lost 7-6 in the third with Murray. Finally in Dubai, after taking his revenge against Auger-Aliassime, he yielded with honors (7-5, 6-4) in the quarterfinals to Zverev. He is also in the eighth of Tsitsipas but before meeting him he would first have to overcome the Australian on his debut Kubler (75) and then Dimitrov And Tiafoe. Road, in short, all healthy.

Fognini, a company is needed to move forward

Fognini, n. 88, he made up for 6 defeats in the last 7 matches but still took the satisfaction of engaging Alcaraz on clay in Rio de Janeiro, taking a set from him (6-7, 6-2, 6-4). Hard debut against the American Ben Shelton, n. 41 and revelation in Melbourne (where he reached the quarterfinals). Then possibly he would have an even harder match against Fritz.

Women: Swiatek chasing an encore

In the women’s singles the spotlight is obviously on the n. 1 of the world Iga Swiatek. The Pole, holder of the title, will try to do an encore in California, a feat that hasn’t been achieved by any player since 1990-1991, when Martina signed the brace Navratilov. Behind Swiatek we find the new Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenkawaiting for an important litmus test, Jessica Pegulawho just became the first US tennis player to reach at least the quarterfinals in 5 consecutive tournaments on the fast and Ons Jabeur, returning from a period of inactivity due to a minor knee surgery. Doubts, therefore, remain about her physical condition.

Italians: Trevisan the only seed, Giorgi on the road to Pegula

The Italians present in the draw are Martina Trevisan, Elisabetta Cocciaretto, Lucia Bronzetti, Camila Giorgi and Jasmine Paolini. The only seed is Trevisan, n. 23, exempted from the first round and ready to challenge one of the US tends Brengle (No. 86) and one qualified. George (44), who is waiting for a qualifier, was not particularly lucky in the draw given that already in the second match she would find Pegula. For Cocciaretto (48) there is the 31-year-old Spaniard Nurria Parrizas Dias (88). Jasmine Paulines (70) will deal with the German Tatiana Mary (69) while Lucia Bronzes (71) has the American Bernarda Pear (42).