By Erik Gudris | Wednesday, March 5, 2014

 

Fresh off winning the Australian Open, Li Na finds herself the top seed in an intriguing women's draw at this year's BNP Paribas Open.

Photo Credit: Corleve

While world No.1 Serena Williams is absent again at this year's BNP Paribas Open, it leaves the door open for yet another intriguing women's event at Indian Wells.

Li's section: Australian Open champion Li Na finds herself as the top seed this year. But will that prove a blessing or a burden for the likable Chinese star? This will be the biggest event in which Li will be the No. 1 seed and she will be expected to live up to her Melbourne glory despite shaky results in February.

Li should be able to navigate her way into the later rounds as long as she plays consistent. Zheng Jie, Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sabine Lisicki all loom early, and each are capable of puling off the upset. The quarterfinals could be just as tricky. While No. 8 seed Petra Kvitova is not a given to get to the final eight, Li might find herself in a rematch against Australian Open finalist and now No. 12 seed Dominika Cibulkova, who just won in Acapulco.

Pick: Li

Sharapova's section: Fresh off of her broadcasting duties at the Winter Olympics, No. 4 seed Maria Sharapova will seek to defend her title. How much rust Sharapova needs to shake off is anyone's guess as she also finds dangerous early round potential foes in Andrea Petkovic and Julia Goerges in her way.

The other side of this section features No. 17 seed Sloane Stephens, who once again will try to prove her worth somewhere else outside of the majors. No. 5 seed Angelique Kerber should make it all the way to the quarters to test Sharapova. But expect the Russian to once again find that something extra when she needs it.

Pick: Sharapova

Azarenka's section: Perhaps that biggest question mark heading into this event is No. 3 seed Victoria Azarenka. After losing in Melbourne, Azarenka hasn't played since and is now also coming back from a foot injury. Is there opportunity for an upset here? No. 29 seed and former winner Daniela Hantuchova certainly loves playing in the desert and could do it if she meets Azarenka in an early round.

On the other side, Canada's Eugenie Bouchard and red-hot No. 6 seed Simona Halep both have the potential to go deep. If Azarenka wants to return to the final, she will have to work for it.

Pick: Halep

Radwanska’s section: Never count out No. 2 seed Agnieszka Radwanska. The Polish "ninja" enjoys the hard courts and certainly can go all the way over the next two weeks. While Dubai finalist Alize Cornet of France could pose problems, what everybody wants to see is a potential quarterfinal meeting with No. 7 seed Jelena Jankovic.

A former champion of the event, Jankovic loves playing in Southern California and she just might be inspired to pull off yet another run to the final.

Pick: Jankovic

Semis: Sharapova d. Li; Jankovic d. Halep
Final: Sharapova d. Jankovic