Nadal the man to beat, Osaka eyes return to glory at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS : Red-hot Rafa Nadal will be the man to beat when Indian Wells kicks off this week while Naomi Osaka will look to begin her ascent back to the top of the tennis world at the tournament that launched her career.

Nadal's season was cut short last year due to a foot injury but the Spaniard has come roaring out of the gates in 2022, winning January's Australian Open for a men's record 21st Grand Slam title.

He followed that up by winning his fourth title in Acapulco last month and has not lost in 15 matches this season.

"Rafa Nadal is now 35-years-old and he's never had a start to the season like this one," Indian Wells tournament director and former player Tommy Haas said on a recent podcast.

"He's the guy to beat here, there's no doubt about it. And he obviously enjoys it here very much," Haas said of Nadal, who has won the Masters 1000 tournament three times.

As a bonus, while in the Southern California desert, Nadal will stay at tournament owner and billionaire Larry Ellison's private resort, Porcupine Creek Golf Club.

"He can play 18 to 36 holes of golf every day if he wants to," Haas said.

"He likes it there and wants to stay for as long as he can. If he's healthy, watch out."

While rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will not be at the tournament, the Serb because he is barred from entry into the country due to his refusal to take the COVID-19 vaccine and the Swiss because he is still recovering from knee surgery, a cadre of emerging stars will be eager to topple Nadal.

Chief among them is Daniil Medvedev, who enters a tournament as the world number one for the first time, and big-serving Andrey Rublev, who won a title in Dubai last month.

Both players are from Russia but they will not compete under the