Nick Kyrgios has not won a singles match since 2022. If he can win one this week he will find himself facing his buddy Novak Djokovic across the net.
Kyrgios, whose singles career has dropped off the charts due to a series of injuries, has utilised his protected ranking to enter the ATP Masters 1000 at Indian Wells, often billed as the fifth major.
He has been paired with a qualifier in the first round, identity as yet unknown, with the winner to play Djokovic, who as sixth seed has received a first-round bye.
Whoever emerges from that section of the draw is scheduled to meet Alex de Minaur in the last 16, as long as the Australian No.1 can get past whoever wins the first-round match between David Goffin and Lorenzo Sonego, and then, probably, No.21 seed Hubert Hurkacz.
Next up for Kyrgios, Djokovic, de Minaur – or someone else, is slated to be defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarter-finals. But there’s a lot of tennis to be played first including Dennis Shapovalov looming as a third round threat to the holder.
Kyrgios is one of the few players on tour who holds a winning record against Djokovic. He has been victorious in two of their three meetings, including at Indian Wells in 2017, but lost the biggest, the 2022 Wimbledon final. Once not close they are now friends and played doubles together in Brisbane at the start of the year.
Djokovic is a five-time winner in the Californian desert event, but all predate that 2017 meeting with Kyrgios. He will again have Andy Murray in his corner, the Scot having resumed the coaching relationship launched at the Australian Open.
De Minaur has never gone beyond the fourth round at Indian Wells, but will be confident of at least reaching the third having never lost to Sonego or Goffin in nine combined meetings. He’s 1-1 with Hurkacz and 1-2 with Djokovic.
Kyrgios and de Minaur are among seven Australians meriting a place in the main draw on ranking with at least one, perhaps two, joining through qualifying.
Jordan Thompson, Chris O’Connell, Aleksandar Vukic, Rinky Hijikata and Alexei Popyrin went straight into the draw, with the latter given a first round bye as No.28 seed. Either Li Tu or James Duckworth will come through qualifying, as they are playing each other, as will Adam Walton if he beats Michael Mmoh.
One name who will not be there is Jannik Sinner as the world No.1 is serving his three-month ban for a doping violation.
There is also a change in court surface which should make the notoriously slow courts slightly quicker, and less like clay, especially as the early forecast is for cooler, possibly wet weather. That should favour most of the Aussie contingent.
No Australian women has qualified for the main draw but five are in the second and final round of qualifying.
AUSTRALIAN MEN IN ACTION AT INDIAN WELLS
Alex de Minaur – first round bye
Alexei Popyrin – first round bye
Jordan Thompson v Corentin Moutet
Chris O’Connell v Roberto Carballes Baena
Aleksandar Vukic v Tristan Boyer
Rinky Hijikata v Alexander Shevchenko
Nick Kyrgios v qualifier
POTENTIAL QUALIFIERS
Li Tu or James Duckworth
Adam Walton
Content Source: www.perthnow.com.au