Held at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California, the BNP Paribas Open (also known as the Indian Wells Open or Masters) is a staple of the yearly tennis calendar. It is a top-tier event, classified as a Masters 1000 for men and a WTA 1000 for women. The competition begins on October 7th, with all matches contested on hard courts. Because of its significance in the sport, many fans and analysts view it as a fifth Grand Slam.
This year's tournament will definitely crown a new champion, as the men's singles bracket doesn't include any past winners. Heavyweights such as world number one Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and the defending champion Dominic Thiem are all absent from the competition this time around.
Currently ranked world number two, Daniil Medvedev enters as the top seed and the man to beat. He is riding a wave of momentum after claiming his first Grand Slam title at the US Open by defeating Novak Djokovic. With four career titles under his belt, the Russian star arrives at Indian Wells with a balanced 3-3 historical record at the venue.
Alexander Zverev, who took home gold at the Tokyo Olympics, has had a strong run with victories at the Madrid and Cincinnati Masters 1000 events. He also secured an ATP 500 title in Acapulco. Following a quarter-final appearance at the US Open, Zverev pushed his winning streak to 16 matches. He currently holds a 5-4 record when playing at Indian Wells.
Stefanos Tsitsipas, the Greek standout, is enjoying a phenomenal season. He has dominated the court this year, winning 51 matches against only 15 losses. His highlights include reaching his first-ever Grand Slam final at the French Open and impressively hitting the quarter-finals in five out of six Masters 1000 tournaments in 2021.