The first ATP1000 event of the season, the BNP Paribas Open, is already underway in Indian Wells and on Saturday some of the best players in the world will hit the courts.
World No.1 Rafael Nadal, one of several players to receive a first-round bye, tops the 96-strong field in California and tackles Rik De Voest in the second round.
The Spanish tennis legend returned to action last week in the Davis Cup but the Indian Wells hardcourts will mark his first solo outing since the Australian Open in January.
Although he spent five weeks sidelined through injury before international duty last week it's hard to see beyond top seed Nadal being crowned champion for a third time.
The 2007 and 2009 winner is 5-2 (Totesport, Stan James) to win in California but a massive 1-66 favourite to get over the first hurdle.
Unseeded South African De Voest can be backed at 25-1 with Skybet but I wouldn't recommend that unless you're in the habit of throwing money away.
British No.1 Andy Murray begins with a second-round clash against unseeded American Donald Young.
Murray, seeded five is 1-16, with Stan James and should have few problems seeing off world No.143 Young in their first-ever meeting (11-1, Boylesports).
Ivan Ljubicic stunned the tennis world when he won in Indian Wells last year but 12 months on I can't see him getting beyond round two.
The veteran Croatian (11-2, Betfred, Bet365) is up against big-hitting Juan Martin del Potro (2-13, Boylesports).
Ljubicic, however, is the seeded player and the champion and therefore will be confident of pushing del Potro to three sets.
Bonkers Bet
Juan Martin del Potro 2-1
(4-1, William Hill).
Tournament betting: (Totesport odds) 5-2 Nadal; 3-1 Novak Djokovic; 7-2 Roger Federer; 9-1 Murray; 14-1 del Potro, Robin Soderling; 33-1 Tomas Berdych, Andy Roddick, Milos Raonic; 66-1 David Ferrer, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, Marin Cilic, Stanislas Wawrinka, Fernando Verdasco; others available.
In December 2020 we sadly 
