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The draw for the first Masters event of the season, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, has just released the draw for this year’s event with certain gaps to be filled by qualifiers who are fighting for those places at present.
We are currently in communication with his team; however, it has not been determined if he will participate in the event by getting CDC approval to enter the country Indian Wells organisers’ statement
Surprisingly the name of Novak Djokovic appears as the second seed which follows his new status as No.2 in the world rankings, despite remaining unvaccinated when it has been assumed he wouldn’t be able to travel to the US and where the organisers are demanding spectators show proof of full vaccination.
A brief statement from tournament organisers said officials were in contact with Djokovic’s team to determine whether he would play in California or even be allowed to enter the United States in view of his stand on the coronavirus.
“Novak Djokovic is on the tournament entry list, and therefore is placed into the draw today,” the statement said.
“We are currently in communication with his team; however, it has not been determined if he will participate in the event by getting CDC approval to enter the country.”
Currently under US government regulations, all non-US citizen travellers entering the United States must be vaccinated against Covid-19 which should apply to the Serb, a five-time champion at Indian Wells.
Could this develop into another confrontation similar to his experience in Australia which ended in his deportation?
Djokovic apart, the draw raised the possibility of another blockbuster showdown between newly established world number one Daniil Medvedev and 21-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal.
Medvedev is scheduled to face Nadal in the semi-finals in what would be the pair’s third meeting in less than two months with the Spaniard emerging the winner on the last two occasions, by winning the Australian Open in January and the Mexican Open last month.
Fourth seed Nadal is a three-time champion at Indian Wells and is playing the event for the first time since 2019 while Medvedev only reached the 4th round 12 months ago.
Britain has three representatives in the draw with the possibility of a fourth as Liam Broady is battling for a place in the qualifying competition and has progressed into the second round by defeating India’s Ramkumar Ramanathan 6-2 3-6 6-4.
In the main draw itself, both Cameron Norrie, the defending champion, and Dan Evans are seeded 12 and 27 respectively and receive first round byes while former world No.1 Andy Murray, a wild card entry and the 2009 finalist, awaits a qualifier and if he is successful, will then take on the 21st seed, Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, in round two with Djokovic possibly lurking in round three!