ATP Indian Wells draw: Tricky path for Andy Murray with potential Carlos Alcaraz and Alexander Zverev clashes looming

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Andy Murray finds himself in a difficult section at the BNP Parisbas Open as the former world No 1 could face rising star Carlos Alcaraz in the second round and Alexander Zverev in the third round.

Three-time Grand Slam winner Murray received a wildcard entry into the ATP Masters 1000 event and he takes on Frenchman Adrian Mannarino in his opening match in Indian Wells.

If he comes through that match, he faces Spanish youngster Alcaraz – who took out Stefanos Tsitsipas in the third round of the US Open – for a place in the fourth round.

The BNP Paribas Open is the 18-year-old Alcaraz’s first event since Flushing Meadows as he suffered a fibrillar tear in the vastus medialis and lateral quadriceps before retiring from his quarter-final clash against Felix Auger-Aliassime.

The player who wins that encounter is projected to face Olympic champion and third seed Zverev for a place in the fourth round.

Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini, who heads up Section 5, is a potential quarter-final opponent with the Italian likely to face either John Isner or 10th seed Jannik Sinner in the fourth round.

Second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas is the highest-ranked player in the bottom half and 13th seed Cristian Garin is a projected fourth-round rival while seventh seed Auger-Aliassime could be his quarter-final opponent.

Of course, if things go according to form then Tsitsipas and Zverev will face each other in the semi-final.

The top half is led by US Open champion Daniil Medvedev and the Russian will face either Mackenzie McDonald or James Duckworth in his opening clash with 16th seed Reilly Opelka possibly lurking in the fourth round.

Eighth seed Hubert Hurkacz and Denis Shapovalov are projected to meet in the fourth round and the winner of that clash is likely to face world No 2 Medvedev in the quarter-final.

Fourth seed Andrey Rublev is the strong favourite to win Section 3, but he could have a rematch with Cameron Norrie – the man who stunned him in the semi-final of the San Diego Open – in the fourth round while sixth seed Casper Ruud, who won the San Diego title, is the projected last-four opponent.

Alexander Zverev Andy Murray Carlos Alcaraz Daniil Medvedev Stefanos Tsitsipas

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