March is here, which means tennis fans are gearing up for their own version of March Madness.  The madness will kick off this week in the picturesque Indian Wells, California, with every man in the field eager to make something happen.  There are certain to be multiple intriguing plot points to track, but as always, those concerning what has currently been whittled down to the Big 3 will be chief among them.

A good place to start is with current Number 1, Novak Djokovic. Djokovic may presently be sitting prettiest among his most decorated peers, but that does not mean that the Serb is exempt from needing a good showing.  Indian Wells marks his first event since he hoisted the trophy in Melbourne, so he should be keen to quickly shake off the rust and make the most of the next couple of events to provide him a surplus of momentum when the tour shift to the clay later in the spring.  Given his poor results in the front half of last season, this event also presents him with a great opportunity to gain ranking points, which will be exceptionally more difficult the back half of 2019.  And lastly, Djokovic is going to be aimed at making a title run to remind the rest of the field – and in particular, his closest rivals – that he is the man to beat.

Someone hoping to challenge Djokovic's supremacy for that top spot is Rafael Nadal, and he also could do with a deep run in the desert.  The Spaniard has enjoyed more than a solid start to his 2019 campaign, but he has also endured a couple of stinging losses.  The first came in the final of the Australian Open, where many were giving Nadal more than a fighting chance against Djokovic thanks to his improved serve and better form throughout the tournament.  Instead, he was absolutely dominated by the top seed in what was one of their most lopsided battles that had the gap between the pair looking much larger than Number 1 versus Number 2.  The second loss came earlier this week against the mercurial Nick Kyrgios, and despite not having as much on the line, this loss potentially hurt more.  Nadal had multiple looks at imposing himself and also held multiple match points only to end up on the losing end.  He is a professional, and he is going to shake off that loss.  He is also considered by many to be the greatest ever on clay, so he is going to be a favorite when the tour moves to the dirt irrespective of how he performs in March.  That said, he is one of the more superstitious competitors out there and failing to make something happen in Indian Wells and possibly Miami will leave him initially more mentally vulnerable on the clay.  A deep run in the desert, however, especially if it includes a victory over Djokovic, would really have him looking very intimidating come clay season.

Roger Federer rounds out the members of the Big 3, and no question, he needs to make something happen in Indian Wells more than the other two.  His stunning loss in Melbourne saw him not only fall outside for the Top 3 but outside of the Top 5. Indian Wells has historically been a happy hunting ground for him though, so although he has little room to gain actual ranking points, a trip to the final could do well to help him gain some psychological ground where his greatest rivals are concerned.  Additionally, the Swiss is making a return to the clay this season, so any chance to garner some momentum before embarking on that journey would be much appreciated.

There is no telling how everything will shake out at Indian Wells and whether or not one of these three favorites will be the last one standing when the last ball has been struck.  But there is apt to be plenty of drama, and these three will be among the hungriest to make something happen in the California desert.