Indian Wells is here again, with its formidable list of player entries and deep prize money. Many consider this tournament the biggest outside the four Grand Slams. Some fans refer to this tournament as the fifth Grand Slam. The champion will leave with 1,000 ATP points and a check for $1,361,360 dollars. That’s big-time money and big time points. That will complement the big-time tennis that’s going to be played. This year’s field is surely not going to disappoint. The top men are playing very well.

As is with every other Masters 1000, the top 32 seeds will follow the current ATP Rankings. That means that the top four seeds will be Novak Djokovic, followed by Rafa Nadal, Dominic Thiem and Daniil Medvedev.

All four of the top seeds have a massive chance at lifting this trophy. However, Djokovic and Nadal seem to be playing the best right now, coming fresh from victories in Dubai and Acapulco, respectively. Thiem is the defending champion, and Australian Open finalist. He’s only participated in one tournament since his incredible Australian Open run, losing in the quarters of the Rio Open. However, Indian Wells is back to the big time, and Thiem will rip through the draw for another shot at Novak Djokovic, the only player who can beat him on a hard court right now.

Then there’s Medvedev. The Russian was on a tear during summer and fall of last year, clinching titles left and right. He seems to have slowed down though and has been exiting smaller tournaments early thus far this year. He lost in the quarters of the Open 13 to Gilles Simon and bowed out to Pspisil in the round of 32 in Rotterdam. He also underperformed at the Australian Open, bowing out to Stan Wawrinka in five sets in the fourth round. Medvedev was my choice to win a slam this year outside of Nadal and Djokovic. Now I’m not so sure. I don’t expect Medvedev to win at Indian Wells. He may bow out early.

Outside of the top four seeds, the only player I see as having a legit shot at this title is Gael Monfils. He’s the second hottest player on tour right now behind Djokovic and has already picked up two titles this year. He held match points against Djokovic in Dubai and there’s no reason not to see him at least in the semifinals of this tournament this year, and maybe even win it.