Indian Wells (United States) (AFP)

Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Serena Williams, Naomi Osaka, Ashleigh Barty absent, the Indian Wells tournament will be an opportunity for the young generation, embodied by Daniil Medvedev and Emma Raducanu crowned at the US Open , to confirm its grip on world tennis.

The Masters / WTA 1000, which starts on Wednesday, has been postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, having had to be canceled last year.

Usually, it is a must-see event in March, but at the end of the season, between the weight of years for some and the waves to the soul for others, this is not the case.

If the packages of Federer, convalescing after a third operation on his right knee, Nadal who treats his left foot and Thiem a wrist, had been known for several weeks, that of Djokovic dates from last week.

The world No.1 Serbian, who is not suffering from any injuries, felt the need to take a breather after a very difficult summer nervously, during which he was stopped in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games, by Alexander Zverev, future gold medalist , before being beaten in the final of the US Open against Medvedev, failing to achieve the calendar Grand Slam, a feat more achieved for men since 1969 by Rod Laver.

The Serbian Novak Djokovic, in tears, thanks the public for his support, after his defeat against the Russian Daniil Medvedev, in the final of the US Open, on September 12, 2021 in New York, which deprives him of winning the Grand Slam Kena Betancur AFP / Archives

- Favorite Medvedev -

Without those who embodied the "Big 3" and have shared thirteen victories since 2004 at Indian Wells, fourteen if we add that of Thiem in 2019, the Californian event, considered the fifth Major of the circuit, loses some of its splendor. .

But not in his interest.

Because a month after his capital performance at Flushing Meadows, the Russian Medvedev (N.2) will have to assume his status as favorite, if he wants to approach the first place in the world.

However, the one who will seek a 5th Masters 1000, has never passed the 3rd round in the Californian desert.

Russian Daniil Medvedev poses with the US Open trophy, after his victory in the final against Serbian Novak Djokovic, September 12, 2021 in New York MATTHEW STOCKMAN GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP / Archives

His main rivals will be Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.3) and Alexander Zverev (N.4) who will try to rebuild their morale.

The Greek is revenge after a difficult US Open, between criticism for his long locker room breaks and surprise elimination in the third round against the Spanish prodigy Carlos Alcaraz.

The Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, during his defeat against the Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz, in the 3rd round of the US Open, September 3, 2021 in New York TIMOTHY A. CLARY AFP / Archives

The German, long the man in form of the summer, with his victories in Tokyo and then Cincinnati, ended up falling in the half in New York against Djokovic and is especially the subject of an investigation by the ATP, after allegations of domestic violence made by his ex-partner.

German Alexander Zverev, after his defeat to Serbian Novak Djokovic, in the semi-finals of the US Open, September 10, 2021 in New York MATTHEW STOCKMAN GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / AFP / Archives

In this context, the Russian Andrey Rublev (N.5) and the Italian Matteo Berretini (N.7) would see themselves settling a little more in the peaks of the current landscape.

An ambition that also drives Casper Ruud (N.10), winner this weekend in San Diego of his 5th victory of the year.

- Clijsters, the ghost -

The 22-year-old Norwegian embodies the famous "Next-Gen" who showed what she was capable of at the US Open, like the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (21), semi-finalist, of the revelation Alcaraz (18 years old), quarter-finalist, or even the Italian Jannik Sinner (20 years old), 8th finalist and who has just won the Sofia tournament.

A breath of fresh air that blew even stronger among the women, since the Briton Emma Raducanu, 18 years old and from the qualifications, had won her first Grand Slam there, beating in the final the 19-year-old Canadian Leylah Fernandez, also almost - unknown until then.

These two stars will have to confirm that they are not shooting.

Britain's Emma Raducanu lifts the US Open trophy after her victory in the final against Canadian Leylah Fernandez on September 11, 2021 in New York Kena Betancur AFP / Archives

Especially since the picture will be even more open: besides Serena Williams (N.41), injured in a thigh and for which uncertainty hangs over the rest of her career, Naomi Osaka (N.12) and Ashleigh Barty (N .1) will not be in contention.

The first, plagued by recurring anxiety problems, takes a break.

The second too, after nine months away from home in Australia.

Another last-minute absence, Belarusian (N.2) Aryna Sabalenka who contracted the Covid.

"Ride youth!"

could well be the leitmotif of this Indian Wells, but the organizers have nonetheless taken the trouble to add a vintage touch, by inviting the Belgian Kim Clijsters, winner in 2003 and 2005, who at 38 is trying yet another return.

© 2021 AFP