The upcoming BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells promises to be one of the most exciting events of the year. The entry list includes stars such as recent Australian Open champion Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, and 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic. However, unfortunately, five ATP players, including a former world No. 4, have been forced to withdraw from the competition.
Which Players Have Withdrawn?
The first ATP player to pull out of the BNP Paribas Open was Holger Rune. The 2022 Paris Masters champion has not competed since sustaining a serious Achilles injury at the Stockholm Open in 2025. Earlier this year, Rune mentioned the complexity of his recovery from this injury. There is no precise timeline for his return to professional tennis yet. Last year, the Dane was a finalist in Indian Wells.
Tallon Griekspoor was the second player to announce his withdrawal. He showed excellent results, reaching the final of the Dubai Tennis Championships, including a semifinal victory over Andrey Rublev. Unfortunately, the Dutchman was unable to play in the final against Daniil Medvedev due to a left hamstring injury sustained in the previous match. Griekspoor confirmed the severity of the damage and the potential to miss other tournaments.
American tennis player Eliot Spizzirri will miss his home tournament. The 24-year-old last competed at the Dallas Open, where he lost to Jack Pinnington Jones in the Round of 16. Since then, Spizzirri has been sidelined with an elbow injury, which also prevented him from participating in the Delray Beach Open and the Mexican Open.
Jaume Munar became the fourth player to withdraw from the BNP Paribas Open. On February 17, the Spaniard announced on Instagram that he would be out for some time due to a right arm injury. His last appearance on the ATP Tour was in the quarterfinals of the Rotterdam Open, where he lost a close match to Alexander Bublik.
Filip Misolic was the last to withdraw. Last month, he was forced to stop his match in the second set at the Play In Challenger due to a physical problem and did not recover in time to compete in Indian Wells.
Who Replaced These Players in the Main Draw?
Quentin Halys entered the BNP Paribas Open entry list thanks to Rune’s decision to withdraw. The Frenchman has had a mixed start to the season, but he secured a notable victory over Alejandro Tabilo at the Australian Open. He is very dangerous when his powerful groundstrokes are accurate. Former Wimbledon semifinalist Roberto Bautista Agut took Griekspoor’s place. This veteran continues to perform at a good level despite being 37 years old.
Alexander Shevchenko received a spot in the draw for the Californian tournament after Spizzirri’s withdrawal. His most significant career achievement to date is reaching the final of the 2023 Moselle Open, where he lost to Ugo Humbert. Aleksandar Kovacevic, who possesses an elegant one-handed backhand, replaced Munar. The American is among the interesting players to watch, making him a valuable addition. Adam Walton took Misolic’s place.
