Indian Wells 2023 is about to start and is going to do it with Every Swiatek as a clear favourite. The Pole, who defends the title, arrives in the Californian desert in great shape, although after losing to Barbora Krejcikova in the final of the WTA 1000 in Dubai it seems possible to defeat her. In addition to those already mentioned, there will be many players who will seek the title in this prestigious event, such as Paula Badosa or Maria Sakkari, two tennis players who have done very well on these courts. Nor should one rule out Aryna Sabalenka, who despite not having great results in this tournament arrives full of confidence and with the aim of getting closer to number one. It should be remembered that in recent years there have been different winners in all editions and the draw is very open, so there will be options for any player.
FIRST QUADRANT
Potential rivals of Iga Swiatek: Liu – Andreescu – Linette/Haddad Maia – Caroline Garcia/Leylah Fernández – Jabeur/Rybakina – Sabalenka/Pegula/Sakkari
The Polish tennis player will be the first seed in this edition of Indian Wells, where she will also not only be the main favorite by ranking but also by game. Swiatek puts the 1000 points achieved last season at stake with a path that invites us to think that we will see it in the final rounds. In her crown defense, Swiatek will start against the winner of the match between Van Uytvanck and Liu. Already in the third round the curves will begin for the Polish, since she will surely face Bianca Andreescu, champion of this tournament in 2019. After this match there will be a small plain when she will face Magda Linette or Haddad Maia, two quite affordable rivals for this time of the tournament. Finally, this part of the draw could leave a confrontation between Swiatek and Caroline Garcia. Nor should we forget players like Leylah Fernández or Madison Keys, who also go this way and are players with the ability to do very well on these courts.
SECOND QUADRANT
Ons Jabeur’s potential rivals: Davis – Vondrousova -Trevisan/Azarenka – Rybakina/Badosa/Kasatkina – Swiatek – Sabalenka/Pegula/Sakkari
This second quadrant will be led by Ons Jabeur, who has been one of the players with the best save to come out of the draw, especially in the early rounds. The Tunisian will open against Lauren Davis and then presumably face Vondrousova, a dangerous player, but who still hasn’t recovered the level of a few years ago. In the fourth round, players like Trevisan and Azarenka appear, with the Belarusian being the most dangerous. In the quarterfinals it will be where the fight is closest, since Paula Badosa, Elena Rybakina and Daria Kasatkina will fight for a ticket for this round.
Main draw at Indian Wells (WTA 1000), where Iga Swiatek and Aryna Sabalenka are the top seeds. pic.twitter.com/7bjl0hEyIA
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 7, 2023
THIRD QUADRANT
Potenciales rivales de Jessica Pegula: Giorgi – Potapova – Ostapenko/Kvitova – Pliskova/Sakkari – Sabalenka – Swiatek/Rybakina
The third quadrant will be one of the most open, with Jessica Pegula as the big favorite, but with many players who could surprise. On the one hand, it is a good opportunity for the American, who will open against Giorgi, to play a good role in the tournament, but there will be many tennis players who will try to advance taking advantage of the equality that exists in this part of the draw, where players like Jelena also appear Ostapenko or petra Kvitova, as well as Lindra Fruhvirtova or the current finalist of the tournament, Maria Sakkari. Without a doubt, this will be the most open side and it is difficult to predict who can reach the semifinals.
FOURTH QUADRANT
Potenciales rivals de Aryna Sabalenka: Cornet – Vekic – Krejcikova – Bencic/Zhang – Anisimova/Gauff – Pegula/Sakkari – Swiatek/Rybakina
Finally, the lower part of the draw has left us a hard road for Aryna Sabalenka, who has not done well in the past in this tournament so her performance will be unknown. The Belarusian will start her journey in the Californian desert against the giant killer Cornet and then face Vekic, who has already stood up to her this season. Then, in the third round, Krejcikova appears, who for many is the only one capable of beating Iga Swiatek as she already did in Dubai two weeks ago. Finally, Bencic and Zhang on the one hand and Anisimova and Gauff on the other are the players who could generate the most danger in a part of the field where Alycia Parks will also be, who could be one of the surprises of the tournament.
