Djokovic, Zverev Open Bids On Saturday

Three years ago, Novak Djokovic was pushed to the brink by an unseeded American named Bjorn Fratangelo at the BNP Paribas Open. On Saturday, they meet again on the same stage. 

Fratangelo will seek revenge as they open the night session on Stadium 1, exactly three years following Djokovic’s 2-6, 6-1, 6-2 comeback win in the 2016 second round. The top-seeded Serbian is bidding for a record sixth Indian Wells crown and to extend his stranglehold atop the ATP Rankings.

Last year in Indian Wells, Djokovic lost his opener to 109th-ranked qualifier Taro Daniel. What a difference a year makes. He returns as the World No. 1 and champion of the past three Grand Slam tournaments and two of the last three ATP Masters 1000 events. Djokovic has not played since winning his seventh Australian Open title on 27 January.

Kicking off the action on Stadium 1 is a tantalising #NextGenATP clash between Stefanos Tsitsipas and Felix Auger-Aliassime. In what could be a prelude to the Next Gen ATP Finals in November, they will meet for the first time in their professional careers. The Canadian took all three junior encounters, including a semi-final meeting at the 2016 US Open. 

Auger-Aliassime is one of four teens in the draw, along with countryman Denis Shapovalov, Alexei Popyrin and lucky loser Miomir Kecmanovic. Kecmanovic received the last minute entry when Kevin Anderson withdrew due to an elbow injury and will open against Maximilian Marterer on Stadium 5.

Meanwhile, recent ATP 500 champions Gael Monfils (Rotterdam), Laslo Djere (Rio de Janeiro) and Nick Kyrgios (Acapulco) will all commence their campaigns. Monfils, a quarter-finalist in 2016, opens against Leonardo Mayer, while Djere will appear in his second Masters 1000 main draw after capturing the attention of the ATP Tour in Rio. And Kyrgios looks to extend his win streak when he faces Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Also in action are third seed Alexander Zverev and seventh seed Dominic Thiem. The German is making his fourth main draw appearance in Indian Wells and is in search of a fourth different Masters 1000 shield. He opens against Martin Klizan. Thiem kicks off his bid against Jordan Thompson in the night session on Stadium 2.

Also, American qualifier Marcos Giron looks to continue his Cinderella run in his ATP Masters 1000 debut when he faces Alex de Minaur. It will be the first match on Stadium at 11am. Giron, a Southern California native and former UCLA standout, is meeting the #NextGenATP Aussie for the first time. One year ago, De Minaur scored his first Masters 1000 match win in a deciding tie-break (d. Struff).