Nadal playing with…Bernard Tomic?!?!…as initial Indian Wells doubles entry list is revealed – By Ricky Dimon

Written by: Staff on 22nd February 2017

Nadal playing with...Bernard Tomic?!?!...as initial Indian Wells doubles entry list is revealed - By Ricky Dimon |

By Ricky Dimon

You may not be able to find two more different players on the ATP World Tour than Rafael Nadal and Bernard Tomic. At least on the spectrum of competitiveness, fight, and will to win, Nadal and Tomic could not be at more extreme ends. But they will find themselves on the same court at the same time at next month’s BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells–and not against each other in singles.

Bernard Tomic of Australia in action against Victor Estrella Burgos of the Dominican Republic during their men’s Singles second round match at the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 18 January 2017. EPA/DEAN LEWINS

No, Nadal and Tomic are playing doubles together.

That much became clear–even though it may be hard to believe–when the doubles direct entry list for the first Masters 1000 tournament of 2017 was revealed earlier this week. Nadal and Tomic were the ninth team accepted based on their combined singles ranking and the first team outside of the traditional doubles pairings, with the American duo of John Isner and Jack Sock right behind.

It remains to be seen if partnering with one of the most well-respected competitors in tennis history inspires Tomic to put forth a consistent effort in his singles career. That certainly was not the case in the Australian’s first match since the Nadal-Tomic pairing was announced. During his opening-round contest in Delray Beach on Tuesday, he blatantly tanked several points against Steve Darcis on the way to a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 loss.

Isner and Sock, of course, is a far more expected pairing when it comes to singles players teaming up for doubles in the desert. The same can be said for bothers Alexander Zverev and Mischa Zverev, good friends Dominic Thiem and Philipp Kohlschreiber, and fellow Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Julien Benneteau. Accomplished doubles performers Vasek Pospisil and Steve Johnson will also form a first-time North American duo.

Among the staple doubles teams on the entry list are defending champions Nicolas Mahut and Pierre-Hugues Herbert, Henri Kontinen and John Peers, Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, Ivan Dodig and Marcel Granollers, Raven Klaasen and Rajeev Ram, and Max Mirnyi and Treat Huey.

As always, the Indian Wells doubles field will become even more intriguing when wild cards and on-site signups are announced.

Among last year’s pairings were Nadal and Fernando Verdasco, Isner and Milos Raonic, Thiem and Kohlschreiber, Gasquet and Benoit Paire, and Argentine Davis Cup teammates Juan Martin Del Potro and Leonardo Mayer.

Past doubles champions of the event include Nadal and Marc Lopez (2012), Alexandr Dolgopolov and Xavier Malisse (2011), and Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish (2009).

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp World Tour, Bernard Tomic, BNP Paribas Indian Wells, Indian Wells, Rafa, Rafael Nadal, Tennis, Tomic