Osaka to meet Stephens in Indian Wells blockbuster

2018 champion Naomi Osaka and 2017 US Open champion Sloane Stephens will meet in a massive first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open, which begins on Wednesday.

World No.2 Barbora Krejcikova leads the top quarter of the draw, which sees No.8 Karolina Pliskova return to competition after a hand injury.

Krejcikova will open against either a qualifier or Sweden’s Rebecca Peterson in the second round, while Pliskova will face either Danka Kovinic or last year’s Cincinnati finalist, Jil Teichmann.

This quarter of the draw also features Simona Halep, Emma Raducanu, and Coco Gauff.

Raducanu could have a tough opener in the second round against either Lyon runner-up Dayana Yastremska or Lyon semifinalist Caroline Garcia.

Halep will open against either Ekaterina Alexandrova or 18-year-old American Elvina Kalieva and Gauff will face either Claire Liu or a qualifier.

World No.4 Iga Swiatek anchors the second quarter of the draw along with Garbiñe Muguruza.

Swiatek will open against either France’s Clara Burel or Anhelina Kalinina and Muguruza will face either Alison Riske or a qualifier.

In the bottom quarter of the draw Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit will look to continue her run of form when she opens against either Elena Gabriela Ruse of Romania or Kristina Kucova of Slovakia. 

But the blockbuster match from this side of the draw will see 2018 champion Osaka and 2017 US Open champion Stephens clash.

Defending champion Paula Badosa begins against either Tereza Martincova or a qualifier and she could face Sara Sorribes Tormo in the third round.

No.2 seed Aryna Sabalenka anchors the final quarter with No.6 seed Maria Sakkari.

Sabalenka will open against either Italy’s Jasmine Paolini or a qualifier and Sakkari will face either Irina Camelia Begu or Katerina Siniakova in the second round.