The Dutch tennis players Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Fransespoor may skip the first round of the masters tournament in Indian Wells. They are among the 32 seeded players based on their positions in the world rankings. They all have a bye in the first round and start in the second round.
Van de Zandschulp (27) is the first Dutchman in the global ranking in 33rd place, but Greek track has come close to him in recent weeks. The 26-year-old North Hollander is only three places below Van de Zandschulp.
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are missing from the global top 10 in Indian Wells. The Serbian number 1 is not allowed to participate because he refuses to be vaccinated against the corona virus, something that is still mandatory to enter the United States. Nadal, down to ninth place, retired due to injury.
In the second round, Van de Zandschulp will face the winner in the match between Ilja Ivashka from Belarus and the Russian Roman Safioellin. The Veenendaler defeated Ivashka in Doha last month. The Greek track faces the winner of the duel between Brazilian Thiago Monteiro and Guido Pella from Argentina.
Among the men, the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, number 2 in the world, is placed first in the absence of Djokovic. The women also play tennis in Indian Wells until March 19. Iga Swiatek leads the placement list. The 21-year-old Polish triumphed last year at the top tournament in California.
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