Several young players are knocking on the door, but Rafael Nadal is the favorite to win the BNP Paribas Open, according to tournament director Tommy Haas.

Nadal has been in blistering form so far this campaign as he opened his season by winning the Melbourne Summer Set and followed it up by winning the Australian Open to become the first man to win 21 Grand Prix titles. Slam.

And he followed up his undefeated start to 2022 at the Mexican Open a fortnight ago winning the title to go 15-0 for the year.

Next up is the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the year in Indian Wells and Haas is backing three-time BNP Paribas Open champion Nadal for the title.

Indian Wells draw: Daniil Medvedev vs Rafael Nadal part 3 on the cards with Stefanos Tsitsipas also in the top half

“Rafa Nadal is now 35 and he’s never had a start to the season like this, coming back from injury, winning three titles,” he said on the Tennis Paradise podcast.

“He is, in my opinion, the guy to beat here, there is no doubt about it. And he obviously likes it here a lot.

The German added: “There are younger guys like [Andrey] Rublev, you look [world No 1 Daniil] Medvedev trying to prove a point, [Alexander] Zverev, [Stefanos] Tsitsipas, there are a lot of guys knocking on the door but Nadal has to be the favorite to go to Indian Wells.

In his press release to confirm his participation in the BNP Paribas Open, Nadal mentioned that he was looking forward to play tennis and golf in Indian Wells and the fact that he can get his clubs out will give him extra comfort when away from home.

“He’s one of the players who stays at Porcupine Creek, the private residence of Larry Ellison, where 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 as long as he can. If he is healthy, be careful.