Murray Headlines Indian Wells Wild Cards
Andy Murray will compete in the BNP Paribas Open for the first time since 2017 after accepting a wild card into the ATP Master 1000 event, the tournament announced Thursday. The other wild cards are #NextGenATP Americans Jenson Brooksby and Zachary Svajda, 2017 semi-finalist Jack Sock and #NextGenATP Dane Holger Vitus Nodskov Rune.
Murray has compiled a 25-12 record in the desert since his debut in 2006, but has not competed there since 2017. On his last appearance at the tournament, in 2017 when he was World No. 1, Murray lost his opening match against Vasek Pospisil. His best finish at Indian Wells was a runner-up showing to Rafael Nadal in 2009, the year he beat Roger Federer in the semi-finals.
Murray reached his first tour-level quarter-final in nearly two years last week in Metz last week and is competing this week in San Diego.
Brooksby has enjoyed a stellar run on home soil in recent months, most recently advancing to the fourth round at the US Open, where he won a set against Novak Djokovic. The 20-year-old also reached his first ATP Tour final in Newport and the semi-finals in Washington. His 18-year-old countrynman, Svajda, earned his first Grand Slam win against Marco Cecchinato in New York last month.
Former World No. 8 Sock reached his first tour-level quarter-final since 2018 in Newport last month before falling to eventual champion Kevin Anderson. The four-time ATP Tour single champion also pushed Nadal to a final-set tie-break in Washington.
Rune has climbed from No. 473 in the FedEx ATP Rankings to start the season to the brink of the Top 100 behind his first three ATP Challenger Tour titles. He came through qualifying at the US Open before falling to Djokovic in the first round.