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Former world No 3 Ivan Ljubicic has revealed which of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic was the “most difficult” opponent for him as he addressed the GOAT debate.

During an illustrious career spanning from 1998 to 2012, Ljubicic regularly crossed paths with Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, who are known as the Big Three.

The Croatian played Federer on 13 occasions, while he faced Nadal and Djokovic nine times each, and he earned multiple wins against each of the legendary trio.

Ljubicic coached Federer from 2016 until his retirement in 2022, helping the Swiss icon win the last three of his 20 Grand Slam titles.

Ljubicic’s record against the Big Three

• 3-13 vs Federer
• 2-7 vs Nadal
• 2-7 vs Djokovic

What did Ljubicic say about playing the Big Three?

Speaking to the Off Court With Greg Rusedski podcast, Ljubicic broke down his experiences of playing each of the Big Three when asked who reached the highest level at their peak.

“I think for everybody, it’s different. Because they were so different, each one of the opponents had our preference,” Ljubicic began.

Ljubicic on Nadal:

“I felt against Rafa, you have time. He stays far back on the return, so he kind of lets you do your thing, especially on my service games. So I felt rather comfortable.

“Obviously, I lost a lot more times than I won, but I did beat him twice. I always felt like if I played well, I’m going to have a shot, I’m going to have my chances. And also he doesn’t serve big, so you’re always in the rallies. And of course it’s really difficult, but I never felt like it’s impossible.”

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Ljubicic on Federer:

“Against Roger, was complicated, because he would always do something different. I remember I played him like four times in three months in the beginning of 2005. It was always a different match. I thought after losing to him, ‘Okay, now I know what I need to do’.

“I remember, Rotterdam was a big battle, 7-6 in the third for him, I had my chances. Dubai, he was serving [and] volleying more than not. And then [Indian Wells], he was going back and looping sometimes.

“So it was always different match. So you had to adapt to him and he was always better in what he was doing than you. So in that sense, it was really, really difficult for me to play against him.”

Ljubicic on Djokovic:

“Novak, last time I played him was, I believe, 2010. When Novak was on, it was maybe the most difficult for me, because me having a big serve and relying [on] a lot of free points with my serve… I mean with him, it was just not possible.

“It was not just that I was not getting free points, but it was coming faster at me than my serve. So it was just… you would feel like you get strangled, because he doesn’t hit winners, but he pushed you left, right, left, right, you’re always on the run.

“You never have a clean shot. You don’t even find yourself in the situation where you can take a risk. So that was really suffocating.”

Ljubicic on the GOAT debate

Ljubicic also weighed in on the debate over which of Federer, Nadal and Djokovic is the greatest player of all time.

“They are different. It’s really difficult to say who is better,” said the 10-time ATP Tour titlist.

“Obviously Novak won the most, it’s clear. But for me, the impact that Roger had on the game, and Rafa, in different moments — it’s huge. Maybe bigger than Novak.

“But… what is the GOAT? If we go by the results, obviously Novak is the one who won the most. But the impact on the game I feel like Roger definitely had, at least for me, was tremendous and still is.”

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Stefanos Tsitsipas is set to fall to his lowest ATP ranking in almost eight years after tasting defeat in the opening round of his Dubai Championships title defence.

Tsitsipas defeated Felix Auger-Aliassime to lift the title for the first time in 2025, though he was handed a nightmare opening-round draw this year against Ugo Humbert — the man who lifted the title in 2024.

Only seven places currently separate world No 30 Tsitsipas and world No 37 Humbert in the ATP Rankings, though it was the Frenchman who had the upper hand in this contest.

Having won three of his four previous contests against the Greek, Humbert — looking to surge back up the ATP Rankings after an injury-disrupted 2025 — broke at the end of both sets to seal a 6-4, 7-5 triumph at the ATP 500 event.

“I think it was a big battle on the serve, we served very well from the beginning to the end,” said Humbert, speaking to Tennis TV.

“I was a bit lucky in the last game [in set two] at 5-4, he did two double faults, but yeah, I had the opportunity, I took it.

“I’m happy about this first win because Stef is a big player. We know he can play and reach the top level, so it’s a good victory for me.”

Victory for Humbert means he is provisionally up three places in the ATP Live Rankings to 34th, ahead of the rest of his campaign.

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However, defeat represents a significant blow for Tsitsipas, who is now set for a significant drop down the ATP Rankings.

The Greek is a former world No 3 at the peak of his powers, though he struggled to maintain his top-10 status towards the end of 2024 and the opening months of 2025, with a back injury significantly affecting his form.

Tsitsipas ultimately finished 2025 ranked 34th in the world, his lowest year-end ranking since he finished 2017 as the world No 91.

However, with 450 ranking points now set to drop off his ATP Ranking following an early defeat in his Dubai title defence, the Greek is now set to fall outside of the top 40.

Currently back up to 30th in the world following a consistent start to 2026, Tsitsipas is provisionally projected to fall 12 places to world No 42 in the ATP Live Rankings.

Though his official ranking next week is still yet to be determined by results across Dubai and other ATP events in Acapulco and Santiago, the 27-year-old is guaranteed to be outside of the top 40 next Monday.

That will mean that the Greek falls to his lowest ranking since May 14, 2018, when he was a 19-year-old ranked 43rd in the world.

Tsitsipas moved up to world No 40 the week after that, and he has remained inside the top 40 of the ATP Rankings after that point until now.

An opening-round match against Humbert, himself a former world No 12 at his peak, was undoubtedly a difficult draw for Tsitsipas as he continues his comeback, and he will have several opportunities later in the season to surge back into form.

However, the Greek now faces the risk of being unseeded at a string of upcoming Masters 1000 events, and potentially even at the French Open in May.

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The debate over whether Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner have taken tennis to another level has been raging over the last couple of years and now a player from the era dominated by the ‘Big 3’ has entered the debate.

Alcaraz and Sinner have won the last nine Grand Slam titles between them, ending the era of dominance that was led by Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal and concluded by Novak Djokovic.

The levels Alcaraz and Sinner have produced as they have started their own era have inspired some experienced tennis observers like former Grand Slam champions John McEnroe and Mats Wilander to claim they are playing better tennis than Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, even though that trio served up as they won 66 Grand Slam titles between them.

Former world No 3 Ivan Ljubicic is perfectly placed to offer a verdict on this debate, as he played against Federer, Nadal and Djokovic on numerous occasions and beat all three during his career.

He also coached Federer to a series of Grand Slam titles and was credited with improving the Swiss star’s backhand as he roared back to Grand Slam-winning form, as he came back from injury at the start of 2017.

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So when he reflects on whether Alcaraz and Sinner are a step ahead of the three greats who won more Grand Slam titles than anyone in tennis history, he offers some perspective.

“I tell what’s better. mean, you know, do we talk about the speed of the ball? Yes, they’re hitting harder, you know,” he began.

“I often look at the videos and the matches in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008 and the guys were not missing. They were so accurate,” he said on the Off Court with Greg Rusedski podcast, referring to Federer, Nadal and Djokovic.

“They were so precise with shot selection. They were building up points. It was just different. That’s why it’s impossible to compare eras.

“It was different tennis. Now it’s hit hard, stay close, hit hard, stay close. So I cannot classify something better than it was different. So you can compare what you can compare how many matches they played.

“It is definitely more physical now. It’s faster in a way, but depending what you like. I like more tennis, but I think like every older guy, you like your times rather than the modern times.

“But it is fascinating, you know, how far we pushed our sport and how athletic it is. So it’s impossible. It’s literally impossible.

“You know, Roger [Federer] was playing better than [John] McEnroe. Yes, I guess, but you know, what’s better? You know, how do you compare?

“Maybe artificial intelligence one day will be able to come up with a formula that you can actually compare it, our brains, I don’t think, are ready for it.”

Alcaraz and Sinner have a long way to go before they get a chance to challenge the records set by Federer, Nadal and Djokovic, but they are already among the game’s all-time greats at the start of their careers.

The longevity by the ‘Big 3’ at the top of the game is one of their greatest achievements and Alcaraz and Sinner will need to dominate for a decade a more before they can think about challenging their status as the all-time greats of tennis.

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The post Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner comparisons with the ‘Big 3’ given fresh perspective by former world No 3 appeared first on Tennis365.

The Indian Wells Open is the third WTA 1000 tournament on the calendar, and all of the top 32 players in the women’s rankings are set to star at this year’s event.

The 2026 Indian Wells Open will be the 37th edition of the WTA Tour event, which is staged at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden — also known as Tennis Paradise — in the Californian desert.

The hard-court tournament is considered one of the most prestigious competitions outside of the four Grand Slams.

Mirra Andreeva is the reigning champion, having defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 championship match.

When will the tournament take place?

The 2026 Indian Wells Open will be held from 4 to 15 March.

How many players will feature in the main draw?

The Indian Wells women’s singles main draw will be feature 96 players, a total made up of 76 direct entrants, 12 qualifiers and eight wildcards.

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Which players have received wildcards?

Venus Williams, a former world No 1 and seven-time major singles champion, is the only player who has received a wildcard so far.

Have any players withdrawn?

Lois Boisson and Veronika Kudermetova have both withdrawn from Indian Wells.

Which former champions will play?

Five former champions are on the entry list: Andreeva (2025), Iga Swiatek (2022 and 2024), Elena Rybakina (2023), Paula Badosa (2021) and Naomi Osaka (2019).

Have any players used a special/protected ranking to enter?

Players who have been unable to compete in any tournaments due to injury or pregnancy for a minimum of six months are eligible to use the WTA protected ranking system.

The rule allows players to use the ranking they held at the time of their absence to enter eight tournaments, or 12 if they missed more than a year.

Wang Yafan, who is ranked 356th and last played in October, has used a special ranking to enter.

Indian Wells 2026 WTA Singles Entry List and Projected Seeds (24 February)

1. Aryna Sabalenka
2. Iga Swiatek
3. Elena Rybakina
4. Coco Gauff
5. Jessica Pegula
6. Amanda Anisimova
7. Jasmine Paolini
8. Mirra Andreeva
9. Elina Svitolina
10. Victoria Mboko
11. Ekaterina Alexandrova
12. Belinda Bencic
13. Karolina Muchova
14. Linda Noskova
15. Madison Keys
16. Naomi Osaka
17. Clara Tauson
18. Iva Jovic
19. Liudmila Samsonova
20. Emma Navarro
21. Diana Shnaider
22. Elise Mertens
23. Anna Kalinskaya
24. Zheng Qinwen
25. Emma Raducanu
26. Jelena Ostapenko
27. Leylah Fernandez
28. Marta Kostyuk
29. Maya Joint
30. Wang Xinyu
31. Alex Eala
32. Maria Sakkari
Jaqueline Cristian
Marie Bouzkova
Sorana Cirstea
Janice Tjen
Sara Bejlek
Ann Li
McCartney Kessler
Elisabetta Cocciaretto
Hailey Baptiste
Katerina Siniakova
Sofia Kenin Rebecca Sramkova
Marketa Vondrousova
Tereza Valentova
Magda Linette
Jessica Bouzas Maneiro
Dayana Yastremska
Barbora Krejcikova
Antonia Ruzic
Sonay Kartal
Laura Siegemund
Tatjana Maria
Varvara Gracheva
Magdalena Frech
Daria Kasatkina
Emiliana Arango
Polina Kudermetova
Elsa Jacquemot
Peyton Stearns
Cristina Bucsa
Solana Sierra
Anna Bondar
Beatriz Haddad Maia
Caty McNally
Eva Lys
Petra Marcinko
Elena-Gabriela Ruse
Francesca Jones
Ajla Tomljanovic
Oksana Selekhmeteva
Yulia Putintseva
Zeynep Sonmez
Anna Blinkova
Paula Badosa
Anastasia Potapova
Wang Yafan (SR)
Venus Williams (WC)

Further wildcards and qualifiers TBC

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Emma Raducanu has confirmed her commercial appeal is still strong despite her lack of success on the court in recent years, with former British No 1 Greg Rusedski suggesting her mega new deal with Uniqlo makes sense for both parties.

The British No 1 has been wearing Nike clothing since she broke onto the tennis scene with a run to the last-16 at Wimbledon in 2018, with his incredible win at the US Open a few weeks later propelling her towards instant global superstardom.

Now her time with Nike as come to an end, with the Uniqlo deal that is believed to be worth several million dollars set to be launched with her appearance at the WTA 1000 event at Indian Wells next month.

Raducanu said in the statement: “I am very pleased to join UNIQLO and to work closely with its amazing team of Global Brand Ambassadors. UNIQLO and I share many values and perspectives on life, culture, and society.

“I am excited to promote LifeWear through my tennis career, and to working with everybody at UNIQLO to inspire and engage young people everywhere.”

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Some of Radcuanu’s critics will question how she is still attracting big money sponsors despite failing to land a title since that US Open win, but former British No 1 Greg Rusedski has offered up a much more positive view.

Speaking on the latest edition of his Off Court Cuts podcast, Rusedski outlined why he believes Raducanu’s deal with Uniqlo makes commercial sense for the Japanese company.

“The deal probably makes a lot of sense for them because they look for brand ambassadors and they look for Instagram followers, they look to TikTok to all those things in social media,” said Rusedski.

“She has a following, you know, in the UK, she has a following international, she has the Chinese market, she has multiple marketplaces there. So for a Japanese company, it probably makes a lot of sense.

“So I think the deal is not only on court, but it will be off court as well. So that makes sense. And your contracts are not always based on your tennis ranking. They’re also based on your followers, so they’re looking at it as a business point of view. They’re taking a punt that they’re hoping she gets back in the top 10, can start competing for slams again and win one, that would be the ultimate.

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“They’re also looking off court and does she generate enough press publicity and will we get a return on investment? They have done their numbers and it’s a very, very successful company. So I think it’s a great partnership.

“I think it’s going to go really well. And for me, fingers crossed, Emma needs to get healthy and get the tennis together. And I think it’s worth the punt even paying her that much money to go with UniGlo. So I think it’s a good deal. And let’s keep fingers crossed that Emma can get some great performances.”

Raducanu has confirmed she is currently looking for a new coach after her split with Francisco Roig after the Australian Open last month and she faces a big test in March, with the points she gained from her impressive run to the Miami Open last year coming off her ranking when he returns to Florida at the end of March.

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Indian Wells is one of the biggest tournaments on the ATP Tour calendar, and all eyes will be on who can triumph in Tennis Paradise in 2026.

Jack Draper defeated Holger Rune in a surprise final to lift his first Masters 1000 title twelve months ago, and the Brit is set to be part of an incredibly strong field in 2026.

We take you through all you need to know about this year’s men’s singles event, from the biggest names in action to the prize money and ranking points on offer.

Who is in action?

So far, only 2025 runner-up Rune and Jaume Munar have withdrawn from the initial entry list released earlier this year.

That means that the tournament is still set to be headlined by world No 1 Carlos Alcaraz, world No 2 Jannik Sinner, and world No 3 Novak Djokovic.

Two-time champion Alcaraz will hope to regain his title following a semi-final loss last year, while Sinner will return after missing last year’s event due to his three-month suspension.

Djokovic, who has not played since reaching the Australian Open final, holds a joint-record five titles in Indian Wells, though he was stunned in the second round twelve months ago.

Alexander Zverev is also set to be a top-four seed at the tournament, with the German looking to win the title for the first time.

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Defending champion Draper returns as he looks to regain his title and continue his return from injury, while 2022 champion Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lead a strong American contingent in the desert.

Thirty-two players will be seeded in the 96-player draw and receive an opening-round bye, with those seeds set to be confirmed following next week’s ATP Rankings update.

What prize money is on offer?

Controversially, the prize money on offer in Indian Wells is actually slightly down from 2025, though significant winnings are still on offer.

This year’s men’s singles champion is still set to receive $1,151,380, though that is down on the $1,201,125 awarded to Draper twelve months ago.

The runner-up will take home $612,340 in prize money, with $340,190 awarded to the two beaten semi-finalists, and $193,645 awarded to the four quarter-finalists.

Players who reach the fourth round will take home $105,720, with players in round three earning $61,865 in winnings.

A total of $36,110 is on offer in round two, with prize money of $24,335 available in the opening round.

Champion: $1,151,380
Runner-up: $612,340
Semi-finalists: $340,190
Quarter-finalists: $193,645
Round 4: $105,720
Round 3: $61,865
Round 2: $36,110
Round 1: $24,335

What ranking points are on offer?

Significant ranking points are on offer at the Masters event, with 1,000 points on offer to this year’s men’s singles champion.

The eventual runner-up will also earn a not-insignificant 650 ranking points, with 400 ranking points on offer for both semi-finalists, and 200 ranking points on offer for the four beaten quarter-finalists.

A total of 100 ranking points will be on offer in round four, with 50 ranking points on offer in round three, 25 ranking points in round two, and just 10 ranking points in round one.

However, seeded players who begin their campaigns in round two will hold 10 ranking points and will take home that total of points should they lose in the second round.

Key dates

Main draw action in Indian Wells will take place from March 4-15, with the men’s singles qualifying event taking place from March 2-3.

The opening round of men’s singles action will be held on Wednesday, March 4, and Thursday, March 5, subject to weather conditions.

Round two action will then take place across Friday, March 6, and Saturday, March 7, with the top 32 seeds beginning their campaigns across these two days.

Rounds three and four will then also be spread across the ensuing two-day periods, before all four men’s singles quarter-finals take place on Thursday, March 12.

There will then be a day of rest for the four remaining players, before the semi-finals are held on Saturday, March 14, and then the final takes place on Sunday, March 15.

The draw for the men’s singles event will likely take place on Monday or Tuesday before the main draw starts, after the seeds have been confirmed.

Champion: 1,000 points
Runner-up: 650 points
Semi-finalists: 400 points
Quarter-finalists: 200 points
Round 4: 100 points
Round 3: 50 points
Round 2: 25 points (10 points for seeded players)
Round 1: 10 points

Entry List (as of February 24, 2026)

Carlos Alcaraz
Jannik Sinner
Novak Djokovic
Alexander Zverev
Lorenzo Musetti
Alex de Minaur
Taylor Fritz
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Ben Shelton
Alexander Bublik
Daniil Medvedev
Casper Ruud
Jack Draper
Andrey Rublev
Alejandro Davidovich Fokina
Jakub Mensik
Karen Khachanov
Francisco Cerundolo
Flavio Cobolli
Jiri Lehecka
Tommy Paul
Luciano Darderi
Learner Tien
Denis Shapovalov
Cameron Norrie
Valentin Vacherot
Tomas Machac
Tallon Griekspoor
Frances Tiafoe
Arthur Rinderknech
Brandon Nakashima
Stefanos Tsitsipas
Joao Fonseca
Sebastian Baez
Corentin Moutet
Ugo Humbert
Gabriel Diallo
Zizou Bergs
Alex Michelsen
Arthur Fils
Grigor Dimitrov
Daniel Altmaier
Nuno Borges
Fabian Marozsan
Jenson Brooksby
Camilo Ugo Carabelli
Alexandre Muller
Marton Fucsovics
Alexei Popyrin
Hubert Hurkacz
Sebastian Korda
Tomas Martin Etcheverry
Kamil Majchrzak
Valentin Royer
(PR) Jerry Shang
Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard
Matteo Berrettini
Marcos Giron
Lorenzo Sonego
Marin Cilic
Damir Dzumhur
Reilly Opelka
Francisco Comesana
Matteo Arnaldi
Terence Atmane
Botic van de Zandschulp
Ethan Quinn
Miomir Kecmanovic
Adrian Mannarino
Eliot Spizzirri
Raphael Collignon
Alejandro Tabilo
Mattia Bellucci
Mariano Navone
Arthur Cazaux
Pedro Martinez
Filip Misolic
Hamad Medjedovic
Quetin Halys
Further wildcards and qualifiers tbc

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Jack Draper has hailed Novak Djokovic as the greatest tennis player of all time as he shared his thoughts on the Serbian icon reaching the 2026 Australian Open final.

Djokovic reached his 11th Australian Open final and 38th Grand Slam championship match — both record-extending numbers — at this year’s edition of the Melbourne major.

At the age of 38 years and 255 days, Djokovic became the oldest Australian Open finalist in history and the oldest Grand Slam finalist since a 39-year-old Ken Rosewall reached the 1974 US Open title match.

The Serbian delivered a remarkable display to defeat world No 2 Jannik Sinner in a thrilling five-set semi-final in Melbourne. He lost in four sets to Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

Djokovic, who is ranked third in the world, has won a record 24 Grand Slam titles and holds the record for the most weeks spent as world No 1 (428).

In an interview with The National, Draper described Djokovic as an example of “true greatness” and a “proper inspiration.”

“Nothing surprises me with Novak. I think, for me, he’s the greatest tennis player of all time,” said the former world No 4. “He is an example to everyone just of longevity and true greatness.

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“I think whenever I watch him play, I’m always inspired by the fact that in Australia, what… he won it, like 10 times? And he’s out there in his 11th final there.

“And for me and for many other players, he’s a proper inspiration and someone that we all look up to and aspire to be like.”

Draper made his long-awaited comeback from a bone stress injury in his left arm in Great Britain’s Davis Cup win over Norway earlier this month, beating Viktor Durasovic 6-2, 6-2 in his only match.

The British star had not played since he was forced to withdraw ahead of his second round match at the US Open in August.

The 24-year-old, who is ranked 15th, is making his ATP Tour comeback at the Dubai Championships this week.

Asked if he is now pain-free, Draper said: “It’s difficult to say at the moment. I’m still at the very end of my process of that. But do I think that I’m going to be good to play full out and play week after week? Absolutely.”

Draper added: “I think from a recovery point of view, my habits off the court maybe changed a little bit. Like I’m trying to sleep more and recover better. I understand the value of my body a hell of a lot more.

“And I think just learning to maybe slow down a little bit as well and to know that you don’t have to always be working ridiculously hard all the time. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

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Former ATP Tour star Julien Benneteau believes Jannik Sinner will be back to top form across the American hard-court swing, despite claiming that Carlos Alcaraz had “gotten into” the Italian’s head.

World No 2 Sinner has been one of the most dominant players of the past two seasons, with him and world No 1 Alcaraz combining to win the last nine Grand Slam men’s singles titles between them.

Sinner was arguably the form player of the closing months of 2025, winning the Vienna Open, Paris Masters, and ATP Finals — defeating Alcaraz in the final — to end his year on a 15-match unbeaten streak.

However, the Italian has not had a perfect start to 2026.

Sinner was beaten by Novak Djokovic in five sets in the semi-final of the Australian Open, ending his five-match win streak against the Serbian and his 19-match win streak in Melbourne.

That was then followed by a surprise exit at the Qatar Open in his return to action last week, with the world No 2 beaten 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-3 by Jakub Mensik at the quarter-final stage in Doha.

In contrast, Alcaraz lifted the title at both of those tournaments, with the Spaniard on an unbeaten 12-0 start to his 2026 campaign.

After defeat in Doha, Sinner will now head to the ‘Sunshine Double’ in Indian Wells and Miami, searching for his first title of 2026.

Sinner reached back-to-back semi-finals in Indian Wells in 2023 and 2024, while he was the Miami Open champion in 2024 — having previously reached the final in 2021 and 2023.

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However, he was banned from competing at both tournaments in 2025 due to his three-month suspension for a doping violation.

Speaking on RMC Sports, former world No 25 Benneteau backed Sinner for a strong return to the Masters 1000 events, and claimed that the Italian would beat Alcaraz at some stage this year.

However, the Frenchman also claimed that Sinner was still chasing his Spanish rival.

He said (translated from French): “Alcaraz isn’t going to win all his matches; he’s going to lose some.

“I think Sinner will manage to beat Alcaraz during the season. But yes, as of February 22nd, since January 1st, he’s [Alcaraz] been impressive. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him this strong.

“Then again, three weeks before the start of the season, it was Sinner who beat him in the Masters final. There isn’t a world of difference between the two.

“Sinner might be a tiny bit off his game, and he took a hit by losing to Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals.

“But on the American tour with the Masters 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells and Miami, he’ll be a force to be reckoned with. He’s not going to lose in the round of 16 or the quarter-finals every time.

“I think Alcaraz has gotten into his head because Sinner is trying to evolve his game compared to Alcaraz, whereas Carlos has a much more complete game than Sinner.”

Action in Indian Wells — the first of the two ‘Sunshine Double’ tournaments — gets underway next week, with Sinner set to be the second seed at the tournament.

Currently, all of the ATP Tour top 10 are set to be in action, with Sinner set to be joined by world No 1 Alcaraz and world No 4 Djokovic in the men’s singles draw.

With the Italian not defending any points after last year’s suspension, this event provides a significant opportunity for him to start closing the gap towards Alcaraz at the top of the ATP Rankings.

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Organisers of the Mexican Open have insisted that reports that the tournament had been cancelled due to “security issues in Jalisco are false”.

The main draw of the ATP 500 event – with Alexander Zverev, Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Flavio Cobolli, Valentin Vacherot, Cameron Norrie and Frances Tiafoe the top eight seeds – is set to run from February 23-28 at Arena GNP Seguros with first-round matches starting on Monday local time.

However, the tournament was thrown into doubt over the weekend following the death of drug lord Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes – who was known as “El Mencho” and was the head of the notorious Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG).

According to the BBC, “El Mencho” was one of the most wanted men in the North American country and he had a $15m bounty on his head.

But he was killed during a military operation on Sunday and “Mexican authorities and the US reported that US intelligence was involved in bringing down the kingpin”.

His death has led to violence across Mexico with shops, schools and businesses closing in several cities, including Acapulco, while two top-flight football matches were rescheduled.

Authorities have also asked residents in certain cities not to leave their homes.

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It resulted in some media reporting that the Mexican Open will be cancelled but organisers issued a statement late on Sunday to reject those claims, saying: “The Telcel Mexican Open presented by HSBC reports that the statement circulating in some media outlets and social networks about the alleged cancellation of the event due to security issues in Jalisco is false.

“The tournament has not issued any cancellation notice. The event continues as scheduled and the tournament is operating normally.

“We remain in constant coordination and communication with federal, state and municipal authorities, under established security protocols.”

Qualification for the main draw continued as scheduled on Sunday and De Minaur, Norrie and Grigor Dimitrov are all set to be in action on Monday.

The ATP is yet to release any statement about whether or not the Acapulco hard-court tournament is in any danger of being cancelled or postponed.

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