Perhaps one of the biggest tennis tournaments outside of the Grand Slam events, this year’s BNP Paribas (Indian Wells) Open features the stars of the sport squaring off in Indian Wells, California. In last year’s tournament, Carlos Alcaraz was able to take home the men’s singles title with a sensational run to the championship. Of course, this year the Spaniard is aiming to defend his crown against a loaded field. Chief among these rivals is Novak Djokovic who needs little introduction after winning four major titles last year (Australian, U.S., and French Opens). Speaking of Grand Slams, the winner of this year’s Australian Open, Jannik Sinner, enters this tournament as one of the favorites to knock off Alcaraz in his quest for back-to-back titles. Finally, Daniil Medvedev is projected as a top-four seed in the tournament and has a fantastic chance at the title should he get past the other three on this list.
For this article, SBS will be going over what to look for from each of these athletes along with a predicted winner and even more information about tennis wagering.
| Favorites to Win 2024 BNP Paribas Open (Indian Wells) |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novak Djokovic | +150 | +150 | +150 |
| Carlos Alcaraz | +225 | +225 | +225 |
| Jannik Sinner | +400 | +400 | +400 |
| Daniil Medvedev | +550 | +550 | +550 |
As noted above, the Joker won three of four Grand Slam titles last year. Earlier this year though he made the semifinals of the Australian Open. In terms of tournaments last season, he notched seven overall titles, including making eight different finals. Regarding performances on hard surfaces, Djokovic won 38 different times while only dropping three different matches. In terms of overall matches in 2023, the future Hall of Famer had a winning percentage of 89% last year, but he has not participated at Indian Wells since 2019. Moreover, he has never won at the contest, so this could be the year he flips the script.
A two-time Grand Slam champion, Alcaraz notched a great win at Indian Wells last year. Moreover, he has experienced breakout success in the last two years with a victory at the 2022 U.S. Open and Wimbledon last year. Last year, he accrued a record of 65-12 in matches, including a mark of 28-9 on hard surfaces. Recognized as the No. 2 overall player in the world, the Spaniard won six tournaments last year and made eight different final matches. However, he has yet to win this year, so perhaps this is where he again breaks through.
An aggressive baseline player and one of the hardest hitters on the ATP tour, Sinner has a ton of physical power that he can use to overwhelm his opponents. The Italian player won four tournaments last year and has already won each tournament that he has participated in this year (two total). This includes the 2024 Australian Open, his first-ever major title, and his best performance in a major tournament after making the semifinals of Wimbledon in 2023. Moreover, he scored 65 wins last year, including an impressive 48-9 mark on hard surfaces. The Italian player is a fantastic competitor, winning the 2023 Davis Cup and making the semifinals of the Indian Wells tournament last year.
Qualifying for the final of this year’s Australian Open, Medvedev also made the final round at Indian Wells last year. He has only played in the Australian Open this year, but he did advance to the finals of this spectacular tournament. In addition to his performance at the event last year, he accrued five titles in 2023, along with nine finals appearances. With a career winning percentage of 75%, Medvedev has won over 270 matches on hard surfaces. Recognized as a potential top-three player in the world, he is always a threat to win any tournament he enters and is looking to bolster his career title marks. Moreover, he set a personal record for most wins in a year in 2023 with 66 victories.
Prediction: If all of these players end up being healthy and suiting up for this tournament (as noted on their seeding chart), it will certainly be a star-studded affair. Of course, any of the above athletes will be a reasonable choice, but taking an outlier event like Alcaraz repeating as champion certainly presents an exciting opportunity at Indian Wells.
After you are all squared away regarding the latest betting news coming from the world of tennis, make sure to also check out the great slew of information over at SBS. Of course, as many regular readers are aware, the tennis betting sites guide is a must-read resource where you can learn about the latest betting markets in the world of tennis. Conversely, if you are interested in some different deposit and withdrawal options, then look no further than the payment methods rundown. On this page, you can find all kinds of options from cryptocurrencies to more traditional banking routes and/or methods. Finally, for those looking for some higher-stakes wagering, then the VIP sports betting breakdown is a must-read page where you can learn more about the perks of VIP betting and if it makes sense for you.
About the Author
As a devout aficionado of sports, Chris Boline has carved a career within the athletic realm. A skilled scribe, he boasts a decade-long portfolio that encompasses coverage of the NBA G League, the Los Angeles Chargers, football and basketball across the country. Beyond his professional pursuits, Chris is deeply invested in his community and dedicates his leisure hours to serving on boards, collaborating with community organizations, and cherishing the company of loved ones. CURRENTLY Business Development and freelance sports writing RESIDES IN Reno, NV EDUCATION University of Nevada BS and MBA EXPERTISE -Sports writing proficiency in: NFL, NBA, UFC, boxing, golf, and some motor sports -Topical news -Promotional and marketing ideas/updates -Business development Summary Chris Boline serves in a business development sales capacity as his day job. He has previously held sales/marketing positions with The Applied Companies (TAC), KTVN 2 News and the NBA G League’s Reno Bighorns, affiliate of the Sacramento Kings. He is a Reno native and is a member of various community boards including the Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, NCET and the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA). Chris graduated from the University of Nevada in 2015 with a bachelors in management and economics and also earned his MBA from Nevada in 2023. More about Chris: Past president of the College of Business Alumni Association (COBAA) 2022-23 Two-time honoree for University of Nevada Alumni Chapter of the Year (Nevada Sagebrush Alumni Chapter, 2017 & COBAA, 2021) 2021 NCET award for Professional Services Organization of the Year with TAC Northern Nevada Human Resources Association 2020 Best Places to Work-Northern Nevada, Second Place with TAC 2016-17 Reno Bighorns MVP from the Sacramento Kings The Nevada Sagebrush editor-in-chief 2013-15 Associated Collegiate Press 2015 Four-year Non-daily Newspaper Pacemaker honoree University of Nevada, Reno College of Business Dean's List honoree (5x) from 2011-2015 Nevada Press Association award for Best Sports Column – Community in 2015 Education
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