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Nick Kyrgios lands horror draw for Indian Wells with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in his path
March 8, 2017 2:29pmby EMILY BENAMMARSource: Herald Sun
IF any doubts linger about Nick Kyrgios’ status as a grand slam champion in waiting, Indian Wells has presented the Australian with the perfect scenario to quash them.
In what has been labelled “the toughest draw in Masters 1000 history”, Kyrgios, 21, has landed in the same quarter as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev and Juan Martin del Potro.
Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic — who hasn’t lost a match at Indian Wells since 2013 — completes the “group of death”, and, after Kyrgios beat him in the Acapulco Masters quarter-finals last week, the pair could clash in the fourth round in the Californian desert.
Nick Kyrgios is set to come up against Zverev in round three and Djokovic in round 4Source: AFP
Kyrgios put on a serving masterclass in Mexico and became one of only two players to have beaten the Serb, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic in their first tour-level meetings. His mentor and Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt was the first.
To set up a rematch with the world No 2, a first round bye means Kyrgios must come through his opener against Horacio Zeballos or a qualifier before a likely third-round clash with world No. 20 Zverev.
Should he progress to the quarter-finals, Kyrgios likely would face the winner of the highly anticipated clash between Nadal and Federer.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Bernard Tomic — without a victory since January’s Australian Open — gets his campaign under way against world No. 112 Bjorn Fratangelo of the US.
Tomic, 24, who has slipped from world No. 17 to No. 42, has failed to get past the first round in four of his past five tournaments and must avoid a similar fate in California to prevent another slide down the rankings.
Jordan Thompson has drawn Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov in the first round.
Nick Kyrgios claimed one of his best wins last week by ousting Djokovic in MexicoSource: Getty Images
Meanwhile, the women’s draw has suffered a big blow with Serena Williams forced to withdraw from the tournament. In doing so Williams will relinquish her world No 1 status, which she regained at the Australian Open, to Angelique Kerber.
The 2017 Australian Open champion, who needed to reach the last four stage in California in order to defend her top ranking, said she had failed to recover from an injury to her left knee in time for the event. She will also miss the Miami Open later this month.
“Sadly, I have to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open,” Williams said.
“I have not been able to train due to my knees and am disappointed I cannot be there. I will keep moving forward and continue to be positive. I look forward to being back as soon as I can.”
Nick Kyrgios lands horror draw for Indian Wells with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer in his path
March 8, 2017 2:29pmby EMILY BENAMMARSource: Herald Sun
IF any doubts linger about Nick Kyrgios’ status as a grand slam champion in waiting, Indian Wells has presented the Australian with the perfect scenario to quash them.
In what has been labelled “the toughest draw in Masters 1000 history”, Kyrgios, 21, has landed in the same quarter as Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Alexander Zverev and Juan Martin del Potro.
Three-time defending champion Novak Djokovic — who hasn’t lost a match at Indian Wells since 2013 — completes the “group of death”, and, after Kyrgios beat him in the Acapulco Masters quarter-finals last week, the pair could clash in the fourth round in the Californian desert.
Nick Kyrgios is set to come up against Zverev in round three and Djokovic in round 4Source: AFP
Kyrgios put on a serving masterclass in Mexico and became one of only two players to have beaten the Serb, Federer, Nadal and Djokovic in their first tour-level meetings. His mentor and Davis Cup captain Lleyton Hewitt was the first.
To set up a rematch with the world No 2, a first round bye means Kyrgios must come through his opener against Horacio Zeballos or a qualifier before a likely third-round clash with world No. 20 Zverev.
Should he progress to the quarter-finals, Kyrgios likely would face the winner of the highly anticipated clash between Nadal and Federer.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Bernard Tomic — without a victory since January’s Australian Open — gets his campaign under way against world No. 112 Bjorn Fratangelo of the US.
Tomic, 24, who has slipped from world No. 17 to No. 42, has failed to get past the first round in four of his past five tournaments and must avoid a similar fate in California to prevent another slide down the rankings.
Jordan Thompson has drawn Russia’s Dmitry Tursunov in the first round.
Nick Kyrgios claimed one of his best wins last week by ousting Djokovic in MexicoSource: Getty Images
Meanwhile, the women’s draw has suffered a big blow with Serena Williams forced to withdraw from the tournament. In doing so Williams will relinquish her world No 1 status, which she regained at the Australian Open, to Angelique Kerber.
The 2017 Australian Open champion, who needed to reach the last four stage in California in order to defend her top ranking, said she had failed to recover from an injury to her left knee in time for the event. She will also miss the Miami Open later this month.
“Sadly, I have to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open,” Williams said.
“I have not been able to train due to my knees and am disappointed I cannot be there. I will keep moving forward and continue to be positive. I look forward to being back as soon as I can.”