LOS ANGELES – Novak Djokovic is appearing in Indian Wells for the first time in five years and seeking a record sixth title, while Coco Gauff is looking to become the first American woman to win the tournament since Serena Williams in 2001 when main-draw action begins on March 6.
Djokovic, the winner of 24 Grand Slam titles, has not competed at the ATP 1000 tournament since 2019 due to travel restrictions in the United States related to Covid-19.
But the Serb world No. 1 has looked relaxed in California over the past few weeks, catching Los Angeles Lakers and Los Angeles Galaxy basketball and football games respectively.
Feeling no pressure could make the 36-year-old even more lethal, said Paul Annacone, who coached Roger Federer and Pete Sampras and is a commentator with Tennis Channel.
“With some people you can say relaxation can lead to complacency but not for him, not with his personality and his desire to compete,” he said.
“Relaxation for Novak should lead to more joy, which should mean more fun. And joy and fun with that great talent tends to equal winning.”
Also back after missing the 2023 event is fellow veteran Nadal, 37, who has 22 Grand Slam titles as well as three Indian Wells crowns.
The Spaniard has suggested his career might be coming to a close and said he just wants to negotiate the desert event “unscathed”, so he stays healthy for the clay-court season.
The 14-time French Open champion returned to competition in Brisbane in January after almost a year sidelined with a hip flexor injury, but had to miss the Australian Open with another muscle tear.
Meanwhile, the next generation continues to make inroads.
A successful title defence for Carlos Alcaraz would provide a huge boost in confidence for Nadal’s 20-year-old compatriot, who has already won two Grand Slams.
“To go back-to-back would be spectacular,” Annacone added.
Alcaraz has strong competition, however.
A title at the event sometimes nicknamed the “fifth Slam” would be confirmation that 22-year-old Italian Jannik Sinner’s maiden Grand Slam title in Australia in January was no fluke.
Russian hard-court specialist Daniil Medvedev, the dangerous Dane Holger Rune and American 2022 champion Taylor Fritz are among the other men who should prove tough to beat.
On the women’s side, defending champion Elena Rybakina comes to the desert full of confidence after winning in Abu Dhabi in February, although she crashed out in the second round at Melbourne Park.
“It’s going to be playing quick through the air, the courts tend to be gritty, which will work with her great serve and power tennis,” Annacone said of the Kazakh world No. 4, one of the most powerful hitters on the WTA Tour.
Not too long ago, there was something of a “Big Three” developing in the women’s game with Rybakina, world No. 1 and 2022 champion Iga Swiatek and reigning two-time Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka separating themselves from the pack.
But US Open champion Gauff has joined the pack to form a “Big Four”, and world No. 5 Jessica Pegula would love to break up the party with a title to end a long drought for American women at Indian Wells.
Former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka of Japan, back from a maternity break, is still trying to recover the form that took her to four Grand Slam titles.
She may have a lot of work to do after falling in the first round of the Australian Open and in Abu Dhabi, and losing to Karolina Pliskova in the Qatar Open quarter-finals.
“There isn’t a big sample size yet but, when you’re that great and you’re still that young, there’s no reason she shouldn’t get back to her top gear,” Annacone said of the 26-year-old. “She just has to get some more reps.” REUTERS
