2022 Indian Wells Open: Women’s Draw Projections; Osaka

Few hours to the start of the Indian Wells Open, the tournament’s organisation released the women’s singles main draw. Krejcikova tops seedings due to the withdrawal of world number 1, Ashleigh Barty. Now seeded in first place, the Czech is at the top half with some other notable players. Top performers such as Muguruza, Swiatek are placed in the same half. the number seed. Karolina Pliskova is another player lined up in the top half. The 29-year-old will be making her first appearance this year following a hand injury since the preseason.

2021 US Open champion, Raducanu also features in the top half. The Brit would face a tough match in the second round against either Yastremska vs Garcia (a first round highlight). Krejcikova could set up an exciting fourth round fixture with Halep or Gauff while another fourth round could see Pliskova go against Raducanu.

Bottom Half

World No.2 Aryna Sabalenka has been drawn in the second half of the draw alongside reigning champion, Paula Badosa. Five months after becoming the first Spanish woman to win at Indian Wells, the 24-year-old returns to try to defend a title for the first time in her career. Her first opponent is either Tereza Martincova or a qualifier, and in the third round she could face her friend and compatriot Sara Sorribes Tormo. Kontaveit also features in this side of the draw and will begin her campaign against Elena Gabriela Ruse or Kristina Kucova.

The match on everyone’s schedule is the first round meeting between Naomi Osaka and Sloan Stephens. This fixture will have tennis fans in front of their screens as both players battle it out. Stephens recently won the title in Guadalajara, her first title since 2018 as Osaka looks to play her first match since Australian Open.

According to the official Indian Wells Open twitter account, potential quarterfinal matches include:

Krejcikova vs Pliskova

Swiatek vs Muguruza

Badosa vs Kontaveit

Sakkari vs Sabalenka