The Indian Wells draw is out—Djokovic and Alcaraz set for a blockbuster showdown, while Zheng Qinwen takes on the challenge of the "death bracket" in the semifinals.

The men's and women's singles draw for the 2025 Indian Wells Open has been unveiled, marking the first stop of the North American Sunshine Double. This year’s lineup is nothing short of star-studded. The potential quarterfinal clash between Djokovic and Alcaraz in the men’s singles category is already generating major buzz. Chinese players Zhang Zhizhen and Bu Yunchaokete have earned direct entry into the main draw, but their paths to advancement promise to be anything but easy.

The women's singles draw features top players like Sabalenka, Swiatek, and Gauff, while China’s rising stars Zheng Qinwen, Wang Xinyu, and Yuan Yue will also be in action. Looking at the tournament bracket, Zheng Qinwen finds herself in the "death half," with Wang Xinyu and Yuan Yue similarly facing tough opponents. Meanwhile, the clash between the new generation of talent and seasoned veterans is set to become the tournament’s main highlight.

Men's Singles Draw Analysis

Top half: Zverev leads, with the new generation fiercely competing for dominance.

With world No. 1 Sinner sidelined due to suspension, German star Zverev will lead the top half of the draw as the No. 1 seed. Having received a first-round bye, he’ll face the winner between Grijak and Kecmanović in the second round. This section also features several strong contenders, including Tsitsipas, Rune, and Humbert—Tsitsipas, in particular, recently rebounded after clinching the title at a 500-level tournament. Notably, French rising star Mahut will share the same quarter with Italy’s veteran Berrettini, setting up a potential clash between the two in the third round.

The Quarterfinals section is headlined by No. 4 seed Casper Ruud and No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev. Ruud receives a first-round bye, while he could face American player Jenson Brooksby in the second round. Meanwhile, Medvedev will need to watch out for China's rising young star, Bu Yunchaokete, who was born in the 2000s. Bu will kick off his campaign against American wildcard player Vijay Sundar Prashanth; if he manages to advance, he’ll then square off directly against Medvedev, the tournament’s two-time runner-up. China’s top player, Zhang Zhizhen, also finds himself in this quarter, set to take on a qualifier in the first round. If he wins that match, he’ll face France’s emerging star, Arthur Fils, in the second round.

Bottom half: Djokovic and Alcaraz lock horns early, as the rising stars challenge the veterans.

The bottom half of the draw is easily dubbed the "death bracket," with defending champion Alcaraz and five-time tournament winner Djokovic seeded No. 2 and No. 6, respectively—setting up a potential clash in the quarterfinals. Djokovic gets a first-round bye but could face off against Kyrgios in the second round, a match that’s already shaping up to be a major highlight. If he advances to the quarters, he’ll likely renew his Australian Open quarterfinal showdown with Alcaraz. Meanwhile, Alcaraz will need to watch out for dark horses like France’s Arthès and other unexpected contenders.

The three-quarter section is headlined by home-courtesy favorite Fritz, bringing together stars like Rublev, Draper, and Aliassime, along with rising talents such as Fonseca and Lerner-Chan. Notably, U.S. breakout star Sheldon shares the same bracket as Nakajima Brandon—potentially setting the stage for an intense battle as they vie for home-court glory.

China's Shuangxing: Reaching the Round of 16 Becomes Primary Goal

Zhang Zhizhen and Bu Yunchaokete both drew unfavorable draws. Zhang Zhizhen has been experiencing inconsistent form recently, so in the first round, he’ll first need to beat a qualifier before taking on the in-form but unpredictable Fils in the second round. If he can carry over last year’s confident performance—when he defeated Rune at the China Open—he might even have a shot at reaching the third round. Meanwhile, Bu Yunchaokete will first have to overcome Bassavareddy, who excels on hard courts. In the second round, facing Medvedev would leave him with virtually no chance of victory. However, given his youthful potential and relentless determination, he still holds the possibility of pulling off an unexpected upset.

Women's Singles Draw Analysis

Upper half: Sabalenka urgently needs a resurgence, with Gauff leading the home-country contingent.

World No. 1 Sabalenka headlines the top half of the women’s singles draw. After receiving a first-round bye, she’ll face the winner between Blinkova and Kessler in the second round. Despite being the top seed, Sabalenka has been struggling recently, managing only one win across her two Middle Eastern tournaments. Her Australian Open title defense ended in disappointment, making it clear that she urgently needs to regain her form. Meanwhile, sixth-seeded Paolini, though drawn into an easier section of the bracket, withdrew from the Dubai tournament due to injury, leaving her current fitness level uncertain. This half of the draw also features Grand Slam champions like Kenin and Stephens, alongside strong contenders such as Alexandrova and Maya. If Sabalenka hopes to reach the semifinals, she’ll need to stay sharp and watch out for a potential fourth-round clash with Alexandrova.

The quarter featuring the No. 3 seed Gauff and the No. 5 seed, recent Australian Open champion Keys, is shaping up to be a standout matchup. Gauff could face Raducanu in the second round—and if she advances, she’ll likely take on the winner between Anisimova and Bencic. Meanwhile, Keys will need to navigate challenges from Potapova and Boas. This section of the draw also includes top players like Navarro, Vekic, and Sakkari, making for some intense competition. Fans are especially eager to see how home favorite Gauff and Keys perform in this high-stakes battle.

Lower half: Zheng Qinwen faces "hellish difficulty," while Swiatek faces intense pressure to defend her title.

The bottom half of the draw is easily dubbed the "Super Death Bracket," as No. 8 seed Zheng Qinwen has been placed in Quarterfinal 4 alongside defending champion Iga Świątek. After receiving a first-round bye, Zheng will face either Azarenka or the winner of a qualifying match in the second round. If she advances, her third-round opponent could be Czech rising star Linda Noskova, while a potential fourth-round clash looms against Paula Badosa. Reaching the quarterfinals would likely mean a showdown with none other than Świątek herself. Despite Zheng Qinwen’s recent struggles—she’s managed just one win and three losses so far in 2025—the return of her acclaimed coach, Riba, and the easing of her right-arm injury have injected fresh unpredictability into her campaign. Meanwhile, Świątek must remain on high alert for a possible fourth-round matchup against Karolína Muchová, who famously stunned the Polish star at the 2023 French Open.

Three-quarters of the draw is anchored by No. 4 seed Pegula and No. 7 seed Rybakina. Rybakina could face Bouzkova in the second round, and if she advances to the quarterfinals, she’ll square off against Pegula for a spot in the semifinals. This section also features top players like Kvitová, Naomi Osaka, and Ostapenko. Meanwhile, China’s Wang Xinyu will take on Sherif in the first round; if she wins, she’ll face Ostapenko next—a daunting challenge that makes advancing even more difficult.