Is there a new winner in Indian Wells again? The chances are probably greater for the men than for the women’s field.
The series speaks for Roger Federer, the probability calculus rather for a new winner face in Indian Wells. If the Maestro should stumble in any match, a new name would finally be added to the long list of winners of the traditionally first ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year. And the history goes back to 1987, when the event moved from La Quinta to Indian Wells. On the other hand, Roger Federer is still undefeated in 2018 and has not lost a single match at the start of the year, even at the Hopman Cup.
Since 2004, however, only four different players have succeeded in the Californian desert – besides defending champions Federer, these were his current coach Ivan Ljubicicic (2010 in the final against Andy Roddick), Rafael Nadal three times and Novak Djokovic on five occasions. Ljubicicic has long since retired, Nadal is curing his injury, and Djokovic has had one big question mark behind him for months. After all, the Serbian showed himself on a training course on Tuesday, before which he had to spend a few days of intensive training in Las Vegas with Andre Agassi.
The first contender for a premiere title in Indian Wells is Juan Martin del Potro, who arrives with the self-confidence of winning the tournament in Acapulco. The Argentinean had already been in the final of the BNP Parisbas Open once before, but lost to Rafael Nadal in 2013. Apart from Federer and del Potro, only one single player, who will be competing in Indian Wells in 2018, made it to the final: John Isner 2012, where the US chick Federer was defeated in two sets.
If Alexander Zverev were to storm to his third Masters-1000 title, he would be the second German with winner merits in Indian Wells after Boris Becker (winner 1978 and 1988).
In the women’s singles, there are many more players in the main field who have traveled to Miami with the trophy. If Serena Williams were to play for the tournament’s victory in her comeback after the baby break, this would be a sensation – not least because Serena first won Indian Wells in 1999, but she avoided the event for well known reasons. The current world number one Simona Halep won three years ago, and her first ever chaser Caroline Wozniacki in 2011. Halep also warmed up in Las Vegas under the supervision of Daren Cahill, who has a very good relationship with Andre Agassi.
Elena Vesnina’s defending Elena Vesnina’s title is unlikely due to her rather meagre form, Maria Sharapova (winner 2006 and 2013) and Victoria Azarenka (Belarus won in 2012 and 2016) would be sensational.
However, Elina Svitolina, the only player who has already won two WTA tournaments this year, can certainly count herself on opportunities. Just like Angelique Kerber, who could become the first German winner since Steffi Graf in 1996.
Here the single tableau of the ladies in Indian Wells