Carlos Alcaraz is the two-time defending champion at Indian Wells and will be one of the favorites to add a third title to his collection in 2025.

21-year-old Alcaraz beat Daniil Medvedev in last year’s final, 7-6, 6-1, as he picked up his fifth Masters series crown.

World number one Jannik Sinner will miss Indian Wells this year, as he serves his three-month tennis ban, offering others a rare opportunity to win a hard-court title.

Several American players will no doubt be hoping they can take advantage of Sinner’s absence, as they look to win on home soil.

One top WTA coach has now named the three home favorites he thinks could be dangerous at Indian Wells.

Patrick Mouratoglou says Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and Alex Michelsen will be ‘extremely dangerous’ at Indian Wells

Naomi Osaka’s coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, recently took to Instagram to share his thoughts ahead of the 2025 Indian Wells tournament.

“With [Jannik] Sinner out of the BNP Paribas Open, there are many players that have a good chance to win it this year,” he said.

“The first two are quite easy, for sure [Carlos] Alcaraz, he won last year, number three in the world, coming back to good shape.

“[Alexander] Zverev, number two, more and more solid, and we feel that he can win any Masters 1000.”

The French coach then named a top American star he thinks could rival Alcaraz and Zverev in the Californian desert.

“The third one is not as easy,” said Mouratoglou.

“I would say, Taylor Fritz, his ranking, he won the tournament already in the past, and playing in the US for American players, we know that they are so dangerous on their home soil.”

Fritz won his maiden Masters 1000 crown at Indian Wells three years ago, as he beat Rafael Nadal in the final.

Mouratoglou then picked a young American star he thinks could be a ‘dark horse’ at this year’s tournament.

“[Ben] Shelton, I think this guy can play incredible tennis,” he said.

“I think the conditions are good for him also.

“The ball bounces very high at Indian Wells and with his serve, I think he’s going to be very annoying for the guys.”

Osaka’s coach was also keen to mention another young American, who has already impressed in 2025.

“[Alex] Michelsen, the American who’s young too, who played great at the Australian Open, defeated Tsitsipas,” said Mouratoglou.

“He has a lot of power in his game and he is someone that we will follow also.

“As we know, and I always say it because it’s true, Americans in the US are extremely dangerous.

“So if there is a place where Michelsen can really do something big, it can be at the BNP Paribas Open.”

Michelsen beat Stefanos Tsitsipas at this year’s Australian Open, on his way to the fourth round in Melbourne.

Patrick Mouratoglou predicts big things for Arthur Fils and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard at Indian Wells

Having shared his thoughts on the American contingent, Mouratoglou spent time praising two of his countryman, ahead of their first matches in California.

“There are two French guys that are really promising,” he said.

“One that we speak about now for already one or two seasons, it’s Arthur Fils, who’s constantly progressing.

“He didn’t do anything big yet but he has a lot in his game, a lot of power, incredible athleticism.

“The other one is Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, his serve is also very difficult to return.

“The number one in the world for serving is Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard.

“His first serve is huge but for me the most impressive is his second serve, and if you look at it, he doesn’t make many double faults, and he makes a lot of aces on second serve too.

“It’s really something that is very special, he is playing extremely well.

“End of last season he really broke through, he is already 30 in the world and he is somebody that we really have to follow.”

It remains to be seen how Mouratoglou’s ‘picks’ perform at Indian Wells but Fritz, Shelton, Fils, Mpetshi Perricard, and Michelsen will all certainly be worth keeping an eye on this week.