Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic are in the same half of the draw ahead of this year’s Indian Wells Open. Meanwhile, Emma Raducanu has also been placed into a horribly difficult part of the draw.
Djokovic and Alcaraz could be set to meet each other in the USA. The Serbian also faces the prospect of a fourth round meeting with defending champion and British No. 1 Jack Draper.
Draper, 24, will be competing in his first ATP 1000 event of 2026 having suffered painful bone bruising in his arm, which had sidelined him for around five months. While he went all the way last year and racked up a victory over Alcaraz in the process, Draper may be targeting a run to the fourth round where he could face Djokovic.
While the Brit will certainly be clamouring for a clash against the iconic Serb, tennis fans will surely have their eye on a potential semi-final meeting between Djokovic and Alcaraz. On February 1, Alcaraz saw off Djokovic in the Australian Open final 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 to complete the career grand slam.
Ensure our latest sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
Meanwhile, Jannik Sinner has been drawn in the same half of the draw as American ace Ben Shelton. The World No. 2 will feel confident if they are to face each other, given he’s won nine of their ten meetings.
However, Sinner does also have the prospect of facing unpredictable Greek star Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round, before a dangerous battle against the likes of Joao Fonseca or Karan Kachanov in round four.
Sinner did not compete in Indian Wells last year as he was serving a suspension after reaching a settlement with the World Anti-Doping Agency over two positive drugs tests.
The round of 64 matches of Indian Wells begin on Friday March 6, with the finals to be played on Sunday March 15.