Carlos Alcaraz’s quest for a historic Indian Wells “three-peat” may include a showdown with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the quarter-finals, according to a tournament release on Monday. Djokovic, who beat Alcaraz on the way to the Australian Open final four in January, is chasing his 100th career singles crown. The Serbian star, who has a first-round bye, starts his campaign against a qualifier or Nick Kyrgios.
Further down the men’s draw, top seed Alexander Zverev could find fellow rival Stefanos Tsitsipas in the quarter-final stage, and 2022 champion Taylor Fritz might meet Andrey Rublev in the same round.
In the women’s bracket, defending champion Iga Swiatek is on track for a quarter-final duel with the seventh seed, Zheng Qinwen, who beat her in the Olympic semi-finals. Top seed Aryna Sabalenka seeks to find her footing after early departures in Doha and Dubai and would face Jasmine Paolini of Italy in the quarter-finals, if that happens.
An exciting American showdown would be possible between 2023 US Open champ Coco Gauff and Australian Open winner Madison Keys. Both will try to break a 24-year drought for American women at Indian Wells last won by Serena Williams in 2001.
