TENNIS
Indian Wells 2023: Who are the top US players? Do they have chances to win?
The first ATP Masters 1000 of the calendar on US soil has just begun and we take a look at the American players with the most chances of winning the trophy.
Tennis fans are lucky, as March is one of the best months to enjoy top-quality games, with two ATP Masters 1000 taking place in the US, the Indian Wells, and Miami tournaments.
Taylor Fritz will return to the Californian tournament as the current champion after he defeated Rafa Nadal last year in two hard-fought sets.
This time, though, two of the best tennis players of all time won’t be able to play, as Novak Djokovic hasn’t been allowed to compete due to his Covid-19 vaccination status and Rafa Nadal is still recovering from his left leg injury and will also miss the Miami event.
Assuming Carlos Alcaraz is one hundred percent fit and healthy after suffering an injury during the Rio Open final against Cameron Norrie in February, he will likely be the favorite to go all the way together with Daniil Medvedev, who’s in red-hot form after winning three consecutive tournaments (Rotterdam, Doha, and Dubai).
Who are the top US players in Indian Wells?
Since Indian Wells is being played on American soil, most of the attendants will be rooting for the US players. But who are the ones with a better shot at the title?
Taylor Fritz
As previously mentioned, Fritz seems the No. 1 option. He loves playing on hard courts, taking advantage of his powerful serve and slick drive, although it’s true that Indian Wells’ courts aren’t the fastest ones.
He knows what it takes to be successful here, win the trophy here, and defeat an all-time great like Nadal, so because of all these reasons, he’s the biggest American threat to the rest of the opponents.
Frances Tiafoe
Frances Tiafoe will fancy his chances too. The Maryland player, known for his irregularity, reached his best level last year at the US Open, where he got to the semifinals before getting eliminated by Alcaraz in a thrilling five-setter.
That game probably changed many fans’ perspectives on Tiafoe, who probably saw in him a talented player who lacked the mental strength to advance to the final rounds of a major.
Tommy Paul
It’s no secret that Tommy Paul loves playing on hard courts and if he does it in front of the US crow, he can become a real threat to anyone.
Paul, who has recently defeated fellow countrymen Fritz, Mackenzie McDonald, and Michael Mmoh consecutively in Acapulco, where he was only stopped by Alex de Miñaur in the final, could have a good run in Indian Wells.
Mackenzie McDonald
McDonald has improved his game during the last three years to become a solid player that can give a scare or two against the very top players, especially in fast courts.
He will be competing in the Californian Masters 1000 after reaching the semifinals in Delray Beach and the quarterfinals in Acapulco, where he was beaten by Paul.
Brandon Nakashima
The young Nakashima is present and future and he’s expected to do big things. Will pressure affect the 21-year-old? It’s hard to say, but the current Next Gen ATP Finals champion has started the tournament in style, defeating the veteran John Isner in two sets (7-6, 6-3).
Ben Shelton & J.J. Wolf
Ben Shelton is the youngest of the American hopes together with Nakashima and he will probably want to impress the world in Indian Wells with his explosive game.
J.J. Wolf, three years older than Shelton, is another one to watch. The Cincinnati player has important wins over players like Tiafoe, Rune, or Shapovalov and took Shelton to a mouthwatering five-set game in the US Open last year that showed his real potential.
Maxime Cressy
Playing against Cressy is probably like playing a chess game. Until the rival can’t figure out his huge serve, the pieces of the puzzle won’t match.
The 6′7 player will be looking to get as far as possible in the tournament using his serve-volley skills.