The Indian Wells Masters (also known as the BNP Paribas Open) gets underway in California on March 4^th. It is the first Masters 1000 event of the season, which means that it is guaranteed to feature the very best players in the world, in both the men and the women’s game.

So-called because the winner earns 1000 world ranking points, the Masters series are third only in terms of importance on the tennis calendar to the Grand Slams, and the season-ending ATP and WTA tour finals. They are mandatory events for elite players – they must compete in them, unless injured, or face a fine.

Matches take place on hard outdoor courts, and feature a qualifying competition and then a field of 96 players who compete over two weeks for ranking points and prize money, with both the men and women’s champions each receiving US $1.35 million at the end.

The defending champion in the men’s event is Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina but, sadly, he will not be back to defend his title, ruled out by a knee injury. On the women’s side it is Naomi Osaka, and the new world number one will be backed to lead a field which includes all the main stars of the WTA tour with the exception of Maria Sharapova, who withdrew three weeks ago with a shoulder injury.

So who will win the 2019 titles?

In terms of the men, the current world number one Novak Djokovic is the current favourite. A five-time previous winner of the tournament, Djokovic has won the last three Grand Slam Events – at Wimbledon and Flushing Meadow last year, and in Melbourne in January. He has not played since that victory in Australia, so may be short o match practice and perhaps vulnerable in the early rounds, but he will also be a lot fresher than many other players.

Rafael Nadal, the world number two, will also be strongly fancied. Three-time winner of this tournament, conditions in Indian Wells suit his game, where the courts are quick with a high bounce, enabling him to place a lot of spin on the ball, and utilise his double-handed backhand. Roger Federer should also not be discounted. The 37-year old has won here five times before, but people were beginning to wonder if he was past it after early exits from the last Grand Slams he has played. However, last week in Dubai, he reminded everybody of his talent by winning his 100^th senior ATP singles’ title.

Alternatively, this could be the year that one of the “next generation” of players takes a major Master title. Alexander Zverev of Germany, seeded three and Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas, newly broken into the world’s top ten look the men most likely, but Borna Ćorić of Croatia, and Karen Khachanov of Russia are worth watching.

Indian Wells was where Osaka announced herself to the world last year, and, having gone on to win the last two Grand Slams and claim the number one spot, she is definitely the player to beat. However, since her victory in Melbourne she has sacked the coach that guided her to triumphs in those two majors, Sascha Bajin, and hired Jermaine Jenkins as his replacement. Tellingly perhaps, the first match she played without Bajin, she lost.

Looking beyond Osaka, the home crowd will be backing Sloane Stephens and perennial favourite Serena Williams, but the biggest threat may come from a player from Eastern Europe, such as Simona Halep of Romania, the world number two, or Karolina Plišková of the Czech Republic. However, it is Plišková’s compatriot, Petra Kvitová, who stands as good a chance as anyone of lifting the trophy. The two-time Wimbledon champion has battled back from serious injury suffered during a home invasion burglary, and showed she was back to her best by pushing Osaka all the way in the Melbourne final. She may go one better in Indian Wells.