As the Indian Wells Masters in California gears up for action, Carlos Alcaraz is preparing to defend his title for a third consecutive year. However, this year’s race promises to be more challenging, with fresh faces likely to pose significant threats to Alcaraz’s supremacy.
The tournament will be without world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who is serving a three-month suspension for doping. This absence puts Alcaraz at the forefront as the possible title winner in a tournament where he has consistently excelled. However, a look at the ATP Race standings indicates that Alcaraz might be faced with stiff competition from upcoming talents who are eager for a shot at the hefty prize money and valuable ranking points on offer at Indian Wells.
The ATP Race rankings, which are based on the athletes’ performance in 2025, determine the top eight players who will participate in the ATP Finals in Turin this November. Jannik Sinner currently leads the ATP Race rankings after amassing 2,000 ranking points at the Australian Open, the only tournament he has participated in this year.
Alexander Zverev, the world No 2, is right behind Sinner in the ATP Race rankings, thanks to his impressive performance in the Australian Open final. However, the real contenders to watch at Indian Wells are the players ranked just below Zverev.
Felix Auger-Aliassime, currently third in the ATP Race rankings, is one such player. The Canadian chose to sit out the Davis Cup for Canada last November to recharge and refocus for the 2025 season. His decision seems to have paid off, with Auger-Aliassime recording more wins than any other player in men’s tennis this year to date. His successful run to the Dubai Final has taken his match win tally to 15 for this season, and he is heading to Indian Wells in high spirits.
Ben Shelton, ranked fifth in the ATP Race, is another player to watch. The American made it to the Australian Open semi-finals and will be looking to make a statement in front of his home crowd at Indian Wells and subsequently, in Miami.
Czech Tomas Machac, currently eighth in the ATP Race, has been on the brink of a breakthrough in men’s tennis and started the month on a high note by winning his first ATP Tour title in Acapulco, Mexico. His win, coupled with a string of successful matches, has boosted his confidence ahead of Indian Wells.
Other players to keep an eye on include Denis Shapovalov, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Luca Nardi. Shapovalov, currently ninth in the ATP Race, has bounced back impressively from a persistent injury that saw him drop outside the top 100 in the rankings last year. Meanwhile, Tsitsipas, who is 15th in the ATP Race, had a rocky start to 2025 but recently made a comeback in Dubai, where he won his first ATP 500 title. Nardi, who surprised everyone by beating Novak Djokovic at Indian Wells last year, is returning in high spirits and could potentially make some big strides forward in the tournament.
Despite Alcaraz being the favorite, the absence of Sinner and the emergence of these new talents promise to make this year’s Indian Wells Masters a thrilling contest. As the tournament commences, these players will undoubtedly be eager to challenge Alcaraz’s reign and make their mark on this prestigious event.
