Novak Djokovic is set to make his return at the BNP Paribas Open for the first time in five years aiming for a record sixth title in the Southern California desert.
The top-ranked male player in the world lost in the third round of the Indian Wells competition in 2019. Djokovic hasn’t played here in the last four years because he wasn’t vaccinated against COVID-19. The U.S. required noncitizen visitors to be vaccinated through last spring.
Djokovic won the tournament five times: in 2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, and 2016. Rafael Nadal, a three-time winner, is expected to return after missing last year’s tournament due to an injury. In January, he also missed the Australian Open due to an injury.
The tournament, which combines the ATP and WTA tours, runs from March 3 to 17. Iga Swiatek, the world’s top-ranked woman, will be returning. She won the title in 2022 and advanced to the semifinals last year.
Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina, the reigning champions, will return. After Roger Federer in 2017, Alcaraz, who is ranked No. 2, became the first man to win in Indian Wells without dropping a set.
Jannik Sinner, the winner of the Australian Open, and Aryna Sabalenka, who was defeated in the desert final last year, are also participating.