Rafael Nadal will face former Wimbledon finalist Milos Raonic in his return to action at the BNP Paribas Open, live on Sky Sports.
The Spaniard, a three-time winner at Indian Wells, is making just his second appearance of the year after reaching the quarter-finals of the ATP 250 event in Brisbane in the first week of the year.
It marked Nadal’s return from a hip flexor injury that had sidelined him for nearly a year, although he was forced to miss the Australian Open due to a muscle tear.
The 37-year-old was a finalist in Indian Wells on his last appearance at the desert venue two years ago and if he successfully navigates his match against Raonic, he will face another No. 7 seed Holger Rohn.
Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Andy Murray On the horizon is a potential clash with No. 5 seed Andrei Rublev if he wins his first-round match against a yet-to-be-determined qualifier.
Murray’s fellow Englishmen Don Evans And jack draper They are drawn against Roman Safavilin and Christopher O’Connell respectively.
Evans’ likely second-round opponent is No. 28 seed Sebastian Korda, while Draper’s win will meet No. 6 seed Alexander Zverev.
Meanwhile, the 2021 men’s singles champion Kim Noori After receiving a bye in the second round, the No. 28 seed will face either Lorenzo Sonego or Mayomir Kemanoc.
In the women’s tournament, Emma Raducano The wild card entry will face a yet-to-be-determined qualifier for the right to face No. 30 seed Diana Yastrumska in the second round.
Katie Bolterwinner of last week’s San Diego Open, has not had a bye and will therefore play Italy’s Camellia Giorgi in the first round, against the winner of that match, No. 26 seed Linda Noskova.
Anthony Joshua’s heavyweight showdown with Francis Ngannou takes place on Friday March 8, live on Sky Sports Box Office at around 11pm with the main event expected.
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