For top-ranked #NextGenATP player Alexander Zverev, his progression of firsts will always be duly noted. His first ATP World Tour title, first victory over a Top 10 opponent. It makes reflecting upon the progression that much more intriguing when the talent in question goes on to post their first Masters 1000 title, first Grand Slam trophy or first stint at World No. 1. A two-time Masters 1000 champion at the age 20 (in Rome and Montreal) sees anticipation naturally shift to whether the BNP Paribas Open’s fourth seed can go on to land a major or climb to the pinnacle of the ATP Rankings. There is no hiding from it. “Everybody keeps talking about the Grand Slams but I’ve won...
Juan Martin del Potro is playing in his eighth BNP Paribas Open. But to Del Potro, some things are always the same in Indian Wells. For instance, his draw. Every year, Del Potro said on Wednesday, he has the toughest draw. He doesn't even need to look at the other sections of the field. He just finds his name, and he knows – yep, that's the hardest part of the whole tournament. “Always. It doesn't change. That's the draw, what I expect for sure,” Del Potro said during his pre-tournament press conference. That was, without a doubt, the case last year in Indian Wells, when the Argentine, then the 31st seed, was drawn in the same quarter as second seed...
Running on empty after a breakout 2017 and with an off-season stacked with charity events and weddings, Jack Sock has hit his reset button a little later than most. The first indication of the American’s big 2017 came at last year’s BNP Paribas Open where he reached the semi-finals. Back to defend those points with a Top 10 ranking to boot, the 25-year-old is rebuilding after some delayed time-out. He fell in his opening two matches of the season – in Auckland and at the Australian Open – before deciding to take that much-needed break. “That reset was the month after Australia I took,” Sock said. “Obviously, the last two weeks, results wise, it hasn’t really shown, the work I...
With a breakthrough title run at the prestigious season-ending Nitto ATP Finals and a career-best ranking, it is fair to suggest the stars are finally aligning for Grigor Dimitrov. Just don’t suggest he’s at peace with himself. While the Bulgarian has never produced his finest results in the desert at the BNP Paribas Open – he is yet to make it beyond the third round in six appearances – he returns for the first time with a Top 4 seeding. Dimitrov admits he is enjoying what he does right now more than in previous years. “Finally my body is starting to understand. I’ve been more consistent,” Dimitrov said. “I wouldn’t say I’m at peace, I don’t want to be at...
A brotherly bash will kick off the 2018 BNP Paribas Open doubles draw, which is always one of the most competitive doubles fields during the ATP World Tour season. Seventh seeds and two-time champions (2013, 2014) Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan will be playing in their 20th consecutive BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. But the legendary team hardly received a sweetheart draw: The Bryans open against another pair of brothers in Germany's Alexander Zverev and Mischa Zverev. View Doubles Draw | View Singles Draw Another must-see first-rounder at the season's first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament will take place when Feliciano Lopez and Marc Lopez (no relation) of Spain face Juan Martin del Potro and Grigor Dimitrov. Lopez/Lopez reached...