Stan Wawrinka was declined a wildcard in his last BNP Paribas Open and you have to wonder why tournament director Tommy Haas would do that. Haas was 2-0 vs Stan winning both matches in three sets in Doha 2006 and 2014 Rome. The 40 year old Stanimal is ranked 92.
Haas did give a wildcard to American 15 year old Izyan “Zizou” Ahmad who lost to Thiago Tirante 61 62. Ahmad is from Wayne, NJ and has trained at John McEnroe Tennis Academy for years but he he was originally developed by his dad and former Spanish ATP pro Miguel Perez who also lives in NJ nearby in Kinnelon.
Tristan Schoolkate beat Alex Bolt in qualies and is now 5-0 career vs the veteran lefthander.
Lindsay Davenport’s son Jagger Leach made his ATP debut but was defeated in qualies 1R by Tomas Barrios Vera 63 63. Leach plays at Stanford.
An interesting second rounder is Bianca Andreescu vs Coco Gauff, if the Canadian can get by a qualifier.
Joao Fonseca, who has won just ONE competitive singles match in the last four months, has been shortlisted for the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year award. Higher ranked and more successful Learner Tien and Jakub Mensik were snubbed from the nominees list that includes: Desire Doue, Luke Littler Lando Norris, Yu Zidi, Shai-Gilgous Alexander. The establishment wants to manufacture Fonseca into a superstar franchise, not Tien or Mensik .
Medvedev and Rublev are still stuck in Dubai.
No. 1 NCAA player Trevor Svajda knocked off ATP 135 Luca Nardi in qualies 46 76 63. SMU’s Svajda is the third highest ranked American teen.
Emma Raducanu has re-hired Mark Petchey to help prepare her for Indian Wells. A month ago on a podcast Petchey said he would “take a bullet” for Emma.
Qualies thriller: Gabriel Diallo saved 2 match points to defeat Zhizhen Zhang 26 62 76(7).
First round battles to watch: Zheng vs Cazaux, Opelka vs Quinn, Korda vs Comesana, Mannarino vs Berrettini, Damm vs Ugo Carabelli.
Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells last 8 years: 2017: 2-1 2018: 0-1 2019: 1-1 2020: no event 2021: DNP 2022: not allowed 2023: not allowed 2024: 1-1 4 wins/4 losses.
Djokovic at IW 2016-2008 2016: Won title 2015: Won title 2014: Won title 2013: SF 2012: SF 2011: Won title 2010: R16 2009: QF 2008: Won title.
BNP Paribas Open · Indian Wells · Novak Djokovic · Trevor Svajda