Big names are playing doubles at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif.
Andy Roddick is playing with Minnesota native Mardy Fish. And America's top doubles team, Bob and Mike Bryan, will be looking for their first BNP Paribas Open title. It's hard to believe the Bryans, who have been so successful on courts across the globe haven't nabbed this title in their home state.
Other tops seeds taking to the doubles court include Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
As many park players are on the court in doubles action, it's nice to see the top singles professionals take to the doubles court as well. While doubles matches are often relegated to the non-for-prime time TV mentality, the fast play at the net is anything but dull.
The tournament continues through March 18. The men's doubles draw begins Sunday, March 11.
The tournament reported "World No. 2 Rafael Nadal will pair with Marc Lopez again and together they captured the 2010 BNP Paribas Open doubles title, but fell last year in the semifinal. World No. 4 Andy Murray and his brother Jamie will team up as well again, and seek to improve upon their quarterfinal run in 2011."
Roddick and Fish previously won two doubles titles together, including the 2009 BNP Paribas Open.
"The Bryan Brothers are the most successful doubles team of all time, owning 76 titles and finishing as the No. 1 team in the world seven of the last nine years. However, the BNP Paribas Open title has eluded the American duo from southern California, but they hope to change that as the tournament’s top-seeded team."
Drama doubled. The men’s doubles final is March 17.
So even if the nets are still locked up and tennis courts are beneath melting snow here, tennis fans can get some early tips and enjoy match play via television coverage at Indian Wells. Turn up the heat in the house and imagine those blue desert skies are just overhead. A touch of summer without the need for sunscreen.
