Indian Wells hands Aussies very different draws
Alex De Minaur was handed a kind draw for the upcoming BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, but fellow Australians Thanasi Kokkinakis and Aleksandar Vukic couldn't have been given tougher assignments if they tried.
World No.10 De Minaur, who is fresh from defending his Mexico Open title in Acapulco, will meet either Japan's Taro Daniel or Colombian Daniel Galan in his opening match, and has Alexander Bublik as a likely third-round opponent.
Germany's Alexander Zverev and defending champion Carlos Alcaraz are also on the same side of the draw, but for Kokkinakis and Vukic, the draw could not have been more cruel.
Kokkinakis will face Australian Open and world No.3 Jannik Sinner if he beats Marcos Giron to reach the second round while Vukic is up against the No.1 seed and five-time champion Novak Djokovic if he makes it through his first-round match.
Rafael Nadal's draw was arguably the biggest story of the main draw, his comeback from injury likely to be a tricky test against Canadian Milos Raonic. World No.7 Holger Rune will be waiting in the next round for the winner of that clash.
No.1 seed and five-time champion Novak Djokovic was handed an easy start against either
In the women's singles draw, defending champion Elena Rybakina faces an opener against either Spain's Paula Badosa or American Ashlyn Krueger.
World No.1 Iga Swaitek, who will be the top seed and won the title in 2022, has a tougher test and will likely face Danielle Collins in her first match. She could also face Linda Noskova in an Australian Open rematch or even recently crowned San Diego champion and De Minaur's girlfriend, Katie Boulter, the Brithsh No.1.
Coco Gauff, the world No.3, faces either Wang Xiyu of China or France's Clara Burel, while Australian Open champion Aryna Sabalenka is up against either Elisabetta Cocciaretto from Italy or American Peyton Stearns.
