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Alcaraz Looks to Extend His Dominance, Djokovic Chasing a Record-Breaking Title

Nothing overshadows the excitement surrounding the upcoming BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event set to begin midweek.

The men’s competition is expected to draw the most attention this year, with the draw producing thrilling matchups from the second round onward and several top stars set to collide early.

All eyes will be on Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz, the world No. 3, who is aiming for a third consecutive title. If he accomplishes this feat, he will join the ranks of Swiss legend Roger Federer (2004-2006) and Serbian great Novak Djokovic (2014-2016) as the only players to achieve a three-peat at Indian Wells.

Alcaraz, who triumphed in the past two editions by defeating Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in both finals, arrives at the tournament following an inconsistent start to the season. Despite winning the ATP 500 event in Rotterdam, he suffered quarterfinal exits at both the Qatar Open (ATP 500) against Czech player Jiri Lehecka two weeks ago and the Australian Open at the hands of Djokovic.

Meanwhile, the Serbian legend is chasing a record-breaking sixth Indian Wells title—his first since 2016. Despite not being in peak condition, Djokovic remains a top contender. His return to competition was delayed by a left thigh muscle tear, which forced him to withdraw from the Australian Open semifinals. He only resumed playing two weeks ago in Doha, where he suffered a first-round exit against Italy’s Matteo Berrettini.

Alcaraz vs. Djokovic Showdown on the Horizon?

Both Alcaraz and Djokovic are set for tough matches, with a potential blockbuster clash looming in the quarterfinals. Djokovic could face Australia’s Nick Kyrgios as early as the second round, and if both advance, he would meet Alcaraz for the ninth time in their careers—the Serbian currently leads their head-to-head 5-3.

Alcaraz begins his title defense against either France’s Quentin Halys or a qualifier. The first seeded player he might face is Canada’s Denis Shapovalov, who recently secured his maiden ATP 500 title in Dallas.

Top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany is chasing his first Indian Wells crown. He could meet either Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor or Serbia’s Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round, while a potential third-round clash awaits against big-serving Frenchman Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

American No. 3 seed Taylor Fritz, the 2022 champion, opens his campaign against either Argentina’s Sebastian Baez or a qualifier in the second round. Fritz boasts an impressive 20-7 record at Indian Wells and has not exited before the Round of 16 since 2019.

A first-round matchup to watch features Brazil’s Joao Fonseca, who enters with a wild card, against Britain’s Jacob Fearnley.

Fonseca has been one of the sport’s rising stars, capturing headlines after winning the Next Gen ATP Finals in Jeddah last December. He stunned Russia’s Andrey Rublev at the Australian Open before claiming his maiden ATP title last month in Buenos Aires.

The tournament’s biggest absentee will be world No. 1 Jannik Sinner. The Italian has been sidelined for three months following a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) after testing positive for clostebol during Indian Wells 2024, bringing an end to a long-running controversy.

As the BNP Paribas Open heats up, there’s no better place to bet on all the action than Betway, the top online betting site in Saudi Arabia. From Alcaraz’s title defense to Djokovic’s hunt for a sixth trophy, every match comes with unbeatable odds and exciting markets. If you’re looking to get in on the thrill, Betway has you covered.

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