Wednesday, October 13, 2021 - Taylor Fritz and Jannik Sinner play a Round 4 match at Stadium 2 on day 10 of the 2021 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, CA. (Michael Cummo/BNP Paribas Open)
Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE)
Age: 23
Ranking: No. 3
2021 Titles: Monte Carlo, Lyon, Laver Cup
Road to BNP Paribas Open QFs: Pedro Martinez, Fabio Fognini, Alex de Minaur
Go-To Quote: “It’s very dry here. That is good for me because I sweat less, which makes for less bathroom breaks, which makes for less complaints.”
Did You Know?: The Greek star recently met up with Seth Phillips, aka Dude with Sign of Instagram fame.
Alexander Zverev (GER)
Age: 24
Ranking: No. 4
2021 Titles: Acapulco, Madrid, Olympics, Cincinnati, Laver Cup
Road to BNP Paribas Open QFs: Jenson Brooksby, Andy Murray, Gael Monfils
Go-To Quote: “The moment players start overthinking, you can see it on court. Tennis is a natural game, a game of feel. Whatever you’re feeling in that moment is the right decision.”
Did You Know?: An 11-year-old Sascha was photographed with Roger Federer in 2008 in Halle. (The picture still hangs above his childhood bed.)
Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)
Age: 30
Ranking: No. 28
2021 Titles: None
Road to BNP Paribas Open QFs: Daniel Altmaier, Reilly Opelka, Daniil Medvedev
Go-To Quote: “I have been No. 3 in the world. You can ask me if I can come back there. Yes, I believe I can. How long it would take me? I don’t know. Will I ever be back? I don’t know, but I will sure try my absolute best possible to put myself in that position again until I don’t enjoy the sport anymore, until I don’t want to play anymore, I don’t want to compete.”
Did You Know?: The Bulgarian says he writes down three things that he’s thankful for each night before he goes to sleep.
Hubert Hurkacz (POL)
Age: 24
Ranking: No. 12
2021 Titles: Delray Beach, Miami, Metz
Road to BNP Paribas Open QFs: Alexei Popyrin, Frances Tiafoe, Aslan Karatsev
Go-To Quote: “Sometimes it’s tough with the schedule, because when you play tournaments every week, there’s not really that much time to enjoy your success. But it’s important to be happy when you have a great week, to enjoy it, because not every week is going to go your way.”
Did You Know?: The Pole has a thing for fast cars, and traveled from San Diego to Indian Wells in a McLaren.
Diego Schwartzman (ARG)
Age: 29
Ranking: No. 15
2021 Titles: Buenos Aires
Road to BNP Paribas Open QFs: Maxime Cressy, Daniel Evans, Casper Ruud
Go-To Quote: “I have to be patient, I have to be ready for every single training session, every single match.”
Did You Know?: He was named and baptized in honor of legendary Argentine football star Diego Maradona.
Cameron Norrie (GBR)
Age: 26
Rankings: No. 26
2021 Titles: None
Road to BNP Paribas Open QFs: Tennys Sandgren, Roberto Bautista Agut, Tommy Paul
Go-To Quote: “The biggest thing is, with the way the rankings are, you have to win tournaments, and I’ve not done that. I just need to keep pushing and keep progressing. I want to keep going up.”
Did You Know?: Norrie attended TCU for three years, finishing his collegiate career as the No. 1 player in nation.
Nikoloz Basilashvili (GEO)
Age: 29
Ranking: No. 36
2021 Titles: Doha, Munich
Road to the BNP Paribas Open QFs: Christopher Eubanks, Albert Ramoas-Vinolas, Karen Khachanov
Go-To Quote: “Everything changes when you play matches. Even though you practice a lot, tournaments are completely different.”
Did You Know?: The Georgian never goes on court without a headband out of superstition.
Taylor Fritz (USA)
Age: 23
Ranking: No. 39
2021 Titles: None
Road to the BNP Paribas Open QFs: Brandon Nakashima, Matteo Berrettini, Jannik Sinner
Go-To Quote: “I feel like I’ve improved just about every part of my game. I just need to keep working, but I feel so much more confident about my return of serve, my movement, my fitness, my backhand.”
Did You Know?: The Californian underwent right knee surgery in June and won his first-round match at Wimbledon just three weeks later.