Felix/Shapo Face Rune/Shelton In Loaded Indian Wells Doubles Draw
Fireworks were already expected in the BNP Paribas Open doubles tournament, with many new-look, star-powered teams joining the ATP Tour's standard-bearers in a loaded 32-team field. Tuesday's draw added to the buzz, setting several marquee matchups at the year's first ATP Masters 1000 in Indian Wells.
Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov, who partnered to help Team Canada win the 2022 ATP Cup, join forces again in the desert and face an immediate blockbuster matchup with #NextGenATP stars Holger Rune and Ben Shelton. Rune and Shelton are teaming for the first time after they squared off on the singles court last week in Acapulco, with Rune winning in three sets.
"I think he's a super fun guy," Rune said of Shelton following their meeting, calling the American's serve one of the toughest he's faced. "I like the way he plays tennis. I think it will be fun. It's going to be nice to be the one at the net after his big serve."
[ATP APP]
The pair is in the bottom half of the draw in the same quarter as second seeds and returning semi-finalists Rajeev Ram and Joe Salisbury, who open against Grigor Dimitrov and Hubert Hurkacz. Dimitrov and Hurkacz previously teamed up last year in Rome and competed in singles earlier this season in Rotterdam, where Dimitrov won in two tie-breaks.
Also in the bottom half, defending champions John Isner and Jack Sock meet third seeds and reigning Roland Garros champs Marcelo Arevalo and Jean-Julien Rojer. The winner there will face either Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev or Kevin Krawietz and Fabrice Martin in the second round. Another pair of Grand Slam title holders — Australian Open champs Rinky Hijikata and Jason Kubler — share that quarter, with the Aussies set to meet Austin Krajicek and Mackenzie McDonald in the first round.
In the top half, the first-time pairing of Casper Ruud and Dominic Thiem meets fourth seeds Nikola Mektic and Mate Pavic in the first round. In addition to Ruud/Thiem, other singles stars teaming up in the top half include Frances Tiafoe and Stan Wawrinka; Roberto Bautista Agut and Pablo Carreno Busta; Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul; Marcos Giron and J.J. Wolf; and Jannik Sinner and Lorenzo Sonego.
Which men's doubles team are you most looking forward to watching?
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 7, 2023
Full draw ???? https://t.co/Pd7lDE0zKt
Top seeds Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski drew Marcelo Melo and Alexander Zverev in the first round, with the winner to play Tiafoe/Wawrinka or Bautista Agut/Carreno Busta. Zverev reached the Indian Wells doubles semis last season alongside Andrey Golubev.
Also in the top half are returning finalists Santiago Gonzalez and Edouard Roger-Vasselin, who open against Nathaniel Lammons and Jackson Withrow.