Indian Wells: October 7 to 16

Indian Wells 2021: Murray, Evans and Norrie to participate for GB

Indian Wells 2021 is the penultimate ATP Masters 1000 of the year. Some player will aim to collect some important points in the race for the ATP Finals in Turin. The BNP Paribas Open is followed by the Rolex Paris Masters (ATP 1000), the ATP 500 Vienna Open and four other ATP 250 tournaments before the final tournament for the best eight players of the season.

The Indian Wells Masters 1000 in California has always been held in March each year. But this year, due to the cancellation of the tournaments in Asia, it will take place at the end of the season instead. Last year’s edition was cancelled due to the pandemic.

Draw and favourites

In the men’s main draw, the 32 seeded players will, as usual, only play from the second round onwards. For the first time since 2000, none of the “Big 3” will be competing in a tournament of the 1000 category. Nole Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Roger Federer have all cancelled for the Indian Wells Masters. The absence of Dominic Thiem, the defending champion of 2019, is also worth mentioning.

The main favourite is Daniil Medvedev, who recently won the US Open and thus fulfilled his dream of triumphing at a Grand Slam. Alexander Zverev is also considered a main favourite. The tournament in Indian Wells could be a successful end to an excellent season for the German No. 1, which culminated in the Olympic Games. Zverev had brought home the gold medal. Stefanos Tsitsipas will also want to have a say in the run for the title. The Greek currently ranks No. 3 in the world and had won his first Masters title on the tour in Monte Carlo earlier this season.

British players at the Indian Wells 2021

Three British players will compete in California. Andy Murray, who has shown an increasing form in the last weeks, will face Mannarino in the first round. Murray aims to get back to his old shape, challenging the big names in the business. He was neither far away to beat Tsitsipas during the US Open, nor Ruud in San Diego. Furthermore, the 34-year-old also played a strong first set against Hurkacz in Moselle. The Indian Wells could be the perfect moment for the former number 1 to beat his first top-10 player in this season.

British number 1 Dan Evans will also participate. Evans, seeded on 18, will face former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori in Round 2. After reaching the Round of last 16 at the US Open, Evans lost to fellow compatriot Cameron Norrie in the same round in San Diego in his latest tournament.

Norrie (seeded on 21) competes with the American Sandgren for a spot in the third round.

Underdogs and the road to the ATP Finals

Besides Djokovic, Medvedev, Tsitsipas and Zverev, the Russians Berrettini and Rublev are also relatively certain to be at the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin.

In pole position for one of the two remaining spots is Norwegian Casper Ruud. Ruud recently triumphed in San Diego, scoring 2925 points this calendar year. Behind him are Hurkacz of Poland with 2775 points, Sofia Open champion Jannik Sinner with 2505 points and Felix Auger-Aliassime of Canada with 2320 points.

Indian Wells on TV

The men’s tournament in Indian Wells starts on 7 October and ends on Sunday 16 October. The women’s tournament, also a Masters 1000 tournament, also takes place. The final is on Saturday, 15 October.

Both tournaments will be broadcasted by Amazon Prime. The broadcast starts daily from 7pm British time.