The mysteries of the desert | The Press

The summers are scorching and the climate is arid. The Californian desert contains one of the tennis treasures: the Indian Wells Masters 1000. This tournament has often been the scene of historic coronations or launch pads for unexpected youngsters. The first tournament of the neuralgic Sunshine Double should once again have an impact on the rest of the season.

Noticed absence

With a record of 15 wins and only one defeat since the start of the season, Novak Djokovic had to withdraw for the most important fortnight of the spring. The five-time tournament champion has still not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and the United States is still refusing entry to the country to unvaccinated travelers. Despite a request for exemption and the support of the American Tennis Federation and the organizers of the United States International, the American agency in charge of security in transport (TSA) did not bend. Barely back at the top of the world rankings, Djokovic will have to take his troubles patiently. This absence therefore leaves the field open to Carlos Alcaraz, to attack the world leader. In the case of the Serb, it is another marked absence at a prestigious tournament, after the United States Open last year. This failure will undoubtedly have significant repercussions on the world ranking in the short and medium term.

Continue Sequence

Daniil Medvedev is virtually unstoppable these days. The tall Russian came under fire after a 2022 season that fell short of expectations. Nothing to do with its start to the 2023 season. The sixth racquet in the world has won the tournaments in Rotterdam, Dubai and Doha in quick succession. More impressively, he did it by pulverizing some of the biggest names, like Djokovic, Andrey Rublev and Félix Auger-Aliassime. Medvedev walks on water and even the desert may not be enough to slow him down. He plays with the same confidence and drive as when he crowned the U.S. Open in 2021. Clay isn’t his favorite surface, so picking up points on hard courts could give him a good cushion in the standings disaster during the season on red sand. One thing is certain, he will be the man to beat in Indian Wells and in Miami.

Defend his title

At this time last year, Taylor Fritz was a talent in the making. A young American on whom his National Federation placed a lot of hope. At the end of the tournament, he became a star. Since his title at Indian Wells, the 25-year-old Californian has never stopped improving. Now well established within the top 5 global, Fritz has the world at his fingertips. He was able to surf his end of the season and here he is, mastering his art better than ever. In the past, we could blame him for a certain lack of consistency or even a certain gap in the way he managed his end of the game. Today, there is nothing. Winner at Delray Beach a few weeks ago, Fritz is becoming the long-awaited player. He has transformed over the past season. However, defending a title is far from easy, especially in a Masters 1000 where the competition is so fierce.

Get back on track

What happens to Bianca Andreescu? Currently installed at 36^e world rank, the 22-year-old Canadian has again had to negotiate with health problems in recent weeks, especially in Thailand, in the middle of the semi-finals. However, there have been more good times than bad for the Ontarian since her return to action last summer. She seems to be finding her bearings, she’s still hitting the ball early in the rebound, her coordination is on point, she’s in splendid shape and, most importantly, she still has an insatiable desire to win. This is where it all started, in Indian Wells, in 2019. It was his first career title. Later that season, she won the National Bank Open and the US Open. Obviously, Andreescu is comfortable on cement. In an environment in which it has already triumphed, this is an opportunity to launch the rest of the season, which is still young.

The woman to conquer

At 21, Iga Swiatek is still the best player in the world. His rise to the top in 2022 was meteoric and it started a year ago almost to the day. She had successively won the Doha, Indian Wells and Miami tournaments. If the trend continues, it should shine again during this American tour. She has reached the final in her last two tournaments, winning one of them against Jessica Pegula in Qatar. The Polish has hardly changed her game for a year. After all, why change a winning formula? One thing is different, however. She shows up to every game with a little more confidence, and it’s noticeable. At key moments, she is unfazed. Even the best players in the world look like novices when they face Swiatek. She already has a head start at the start of the two big American tournaments.