The Indian Wells Open gets underway on March 6th, with the world's top-ranked ATP stars vying to win the first Masters 1000 tournament of 2024.
World No. 2 Carlos Alcaraz is the defending champion, but the Spaniard is excluded from our list of favorites. But that doesn't mean he is not a contender. Alcaraz is still super talented not to get back to the ATP podium in the final Sunday in spite of his current drought.
But with doubts about the severity of the ankle injury he picked up at the Rio Open, his preparations for this tournament will likely be far from ideal. In that case, we have singled out the three men who are most likely to win the 2024 Indian Wells Masters.
3. Daniil Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev was one of, if not, the most consistent player on hard courts in recent years. He tallied the most wins on hard courts last season and lifted four titles on the surface.
This year, Medvedev arrives at the desert as motivated as ever after last year's runner-up finish. His year began quite commendably at the Australian Open, reaching his third final there and only losing to an inspired Jannik Sinner.
2. Novak Djokovic
A five-time champion at the BNP Paribas Open and the undisputable king of hard courts. Novak Djokovic will go in search of a record sixth title in California after missing the event in each of the last three stagings.
Despite surrendering the Australian Open crown in the semifinal in January, it would be foolish to write him off based on one tournament in which he played with illness.
After a month's break, Djokovic is fully recharged and has already set sights on lifting hardware in the desert, arriving stateside earlier than most players.
1. Jannik Sinner
Unbeaten in 12 matches this year, Jannik Sinner just about pips Djokovic in our No. 1 list of favorites. The Italian has amassed the most points this year and already boasts a winning advantage over his direct rivals in recent matches, strengthing the notion that he is currently the world's best player contrary to the ATP rankings.
Sinner was a semifinalist in Indian Wells last year, but he is in the form of his life as he returns, seeking his third straight title in 2024. The 22-year-old is the man to beat, and for good reasons.
Latest Comments
- Kyrgios will do anything to stay in the news.shirley19-12-2024
- A technical error.
MrMustard18-12-2024 - All that is said , all that is done. Nick has 0 grand slams wins. Everything else is hot 🥵 air.MrMustard18-12-2024
- All that is said , all that isMrMustard18-12-2024
- Kyrgios is a jerk.shirley17-12-2024
- If Jessica Pegula had to undergo such horror for using a bannes substance, so do these two tennis players. Penalty should apply to all players regardless of their excuses. They are professionals and know better!!
Stella112-12-2024 - All players should be treated the same for taking banned substances, if your no 1 in the world or no 300 man or woman you should not be allowed to keep playing,,VPH108-12-2024
- Ah, censored again. No one gets to read my comment. LOLjjluvsports08-12-2024
- Reynolds, could you list all the wars started by the U.S. and U.K., or will you run out of paper? Hypocrisy.jjluvsports06-12-2024
- IDK, it looks like to me that Raducanu should praise herself and her team for 'gaming the system' as in playing the points and ranking game. When you look at her season of wild cards, skipping tournaments (including the Paris Olympics!), retiring from losing matches and avoiding qualifying rounds, it seems like there was some plan to move up the ranks without actually playing a lot of tennis. And it worked! Congrats!RealityCheckers04-12-2024