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Three-time Grand Slam winner Andy Murray and 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin have been awarded wildcards for the 2022 Indian Wells Open.
Murray is a former finalist in the California desert, having reached the title round in 2009, when he lost to Rafael Nadal. It remains his best performance in the tournament so far. The Brit competed at the event for the first time in four years in 2021, losing to Alexander Zverev in the third round.
Andy Murray has relied on wildcards to gain direct entry into quite a few tournaments since his comeback. His results have been improving steadily.
At the start of the year, he reached the final of the Sydney Tennis Classic. Last month, he made it to the top 100 of the rankings for the first time since 2018. The former World No. 1 is currently ranked 84. His gradual rise in the rankings should end his reliance on wildcards soon enough.
Meanwhile, Sofia Kenin had a breakout season in 2020, winning her maiden Grand Slam title at the Australian Open along with a runner-up finish at Roland Garros. However, she has struggled to hit those heights since then.
Kenin ended her 2021 season after a second-round exit from Wimbledon. At the start of the year, she made it to the quarterfinals of the Adelaide International, losing to World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty.
However, Kenin lost in the opening rounds of the next four tournaments she competed in. Once ranked as high as No. 4, she has dropped all the way down to 89. The American didn't play at Indian Wells in 2021. She didn't progress beyond the second round in her previous two appearances at the tournament.
Along with Andy Murray and Sofia Kenin, Naomi Osaka has also been awarded a wildcard for Indian Wells
Naomi Osaka was given the first wildcard for the 2022 Indian Wells Open by the tournament organizers a couple of weeks ago. She won her maiden career title at Indian Wells in 2018, defeating players like Maria Sharapova, Simona Halep and Daria Kasatkina en route to the title.
Following an unsuccessful Australian Open title defense this year, Osaka's ranking took a huge hit, with the Japanese currently ranked 80th.
The four-time Grand Slam winner is also set to participate in the Eisenhower Cup, an exhibition event to be held on 8 March. The event is set to be conducted at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden as well.
