Novak Djokovic will return to Indian Wells next month following a five-year absence due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and U.S. travel bans, according to an entry list released Wednesday for this tournament.
Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina of Mexico and Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner from Germany are also on the list.
Djokovic a 22-time Grand Slam champion
Novak Djokovic holds more Grand Slam titles than any player in history, and with another victory at Indian Wells next month he would surpass Rafael Nadal and become equal on this all-time list.
Serb superstar Novak Djokovic captured his 22nd title of 2018 last week at New York when he beat 2022 U.S. Open finalist Daniil Medvedev in straight sets to complete a historic run to 23 consecutive Grand Slam finals set by Roger Federer.
Djokovic, 35, has been included on the men’s entry list for the BNP Paribas Open beginning Feb 19. Due to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions in the US and potentially travel restrictions as a result of vaccine mandate, he missed last year’s event; but could return under certain conditions pending approval for an exemption from mandatory vaccine mandate. On his men’s list are reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz and 2023 Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner – with Alcaraz the reigning champion Carlos Alcaraz joining him and 2023 Australian Open winner Jannik Sinner joining him on this men’s entry list as well.
He’s a five-time Indian Wells champion
Djokovic, currently the world’s number one tennis player, will return to Indian Wells March 3-17 with fellow Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal following their protected ranking addition to its entry list.
Reigning champions Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina will both return for action this year. Alcaraz made waves last year by becoming the first man ever to win Indian Wells without dropping a set; 2024 BNP Paribas Open runner-up Rybakina hopes to find her form after her disappointing Australian Open semifinal performance.
On the men’s side, keep an eye out for 2022 winner Taylor Fritz, 2023 runner-up Daniil Medvedev and two-time Slam finalist Andy Murray. In the women’s draw, top-ranked Iga Swiatek who reached the 2024 BNP Paribas Open final as well as Maria Sakkari, Ons Jabeur and Marketa Vondrousova are expected to perform strongly; three-time Australian Open finalist Jannik Sinner should also be playing his best tennis yet again!
He’s a three-time Miami Open champion
Djokovic holds three titles at Key Biscayne – more than any male player – with a 28-6 win-loss record and holds the all-time ATP Masters 1000 title record with 28 titles won here.
Recently, Djokovic won his first tournament since the Australian Open at an ATP 250 event in Brisbane – defeating Japan’s Kei Nishikori in straight sets.
2024 Champion Rafael Nadal joins top 10 players Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz who were last year’s Indian Wells winners, as well as American Taylor Fritz who ended a 17-year title drought for top US players with his historic run at Indian Wells 2022.
Poland’s Iga Swiatek and Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka both stand a good chance of adding another Grand Slam title to their impressive resumes, along with top 10 players Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and defending champion Elena Rybakina from Russia.
He’s a four-time BNP Paribas Open champion
Djokovic became the only man ever to win four consecutive BNP Paribas Open titles, setting a new record and holding 22 Grand Slam titles since the Open Era began.
Djokovic must have breathed a sigh of relief when he held at love in the opening game of the second set, yet soon began to tire as Daniels unleashed her powerful shotmaking.
2024 event champion will aim for an unprecedented sixth title at an event widely considered the premier non-Grand Slam tournament on the tennis calendar, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden event from March 3-17. Women’s field features reigning champion Iga Swiatek (currently ranked second), Australian Open champ Aryna Sabalenka and Americans Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula all among top four.
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