Fans at the 2013 BNP Paribas Open could be treated to the latest edition of the Roger Federer-Rafael Nadal rivalry, one of several potential intriguing matches announced in the main draws, Tuesday.
Federer and Nadal have not played against each other since the semifinals at Indian Wells last year, and if they do not play in the quarterfinals in the desert, the rivalry would be on hold until at least Madrid.
Federer, the defending champion, could face last year's runner-up American John Isner in the fourth round.
Isner, who is looking to remain the top U.S. player on tour, faces a brutal draw with potential second round opponent of Lukus Rosol, who stunned Nadal at Wimbledon in 2012, or former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt. Isner's projected third round foe No. 18 Stanislas Wawrinka.
If Isner does not reach at least the quarterfinal or is outlasted by fellow American Sam Querrey, Querrey would be the top ranked American for the first time in his career. But, Tuesday's draw was not too kind to the LA-area native.
Querrey could see World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the fourth round. Also in that section of the draw, American's Mardy Fish and James Blake will look to make a splash against higher ranked opponents.
If the top men's players advance, projected quarterfinals would see Djokovic take on No. 8 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, No. 3 Andy Murray versus No. 7 Juan Martin Del Porto and No. 4 David Ferrer against No. 6 Tomas Berdych, along with Federer-Nadal.
In the women's draw, top seed Victoria Azarenka could see an Australian Open rematch against American Sloane Stephens in the fourth round.
The No. 15 seed Stephens made a splash at the year's first major in Melbourne taking out Serena Williams before falling to Azarenka in a controversial match.
Second seed and 2012 runner-up Maria Sharapova has a potential quarterfinal clash with No. 6 Sara Errani, if the seeds hold, but 2010 champion Jelena Jankovic is also lurking in that section of the draw. Third seed Agnieszka Radwanska might face fifth seed Petra Kvitova in another potentially great quarterfinal.
This year's women's draw is also stacked with the next generation of Americans, including two all-U.S. first round matches. Bethanie Mattek-Sands, a wild-card entrant, will take on Jamie Hampton while Madison Keys faces Melanie Oudin.
Other Americans making the tournament field include No. 22 Varvara Lepchenko, Taylor Townsend, Lauren Davis, Christina McHale, Vania King, Maria Sanchez and veteran Jill Craybas.
The main draw action starts Wednesday at 11 a.m.
