The official acceptance list for the Indian Wells doubles draw was finalised on Monday, and an unusual pairing caught everyone’s eye.
Rafael Nadal and Bernard Tomic will team up for the first time and have used their singles rankings to gain entry into the field.
Both Nadal and Tomic have doubles rankings outside the top 100, but their ability to use their singles rankings – No.6 for Nadal and No.31 for Tomic – put them ninth-highest on the entry list with a combined ranking of 37.
They’re they highest profile combination in the field and one of just three “all-singles” pairings in the draw.
The others are Zverev brothers Mischa and Alexander, and Dominic Thiem and Philipp Kohlschreiber.
The acceptance list is headed by top-ranked French pair Nicolas Mahut and Pierre Hugues-Herbert.
The @BNPParibasOpen doubles draw will feature first-time team of @RafaelNadal and Bernard Tomic, as well as Isner/Sock and Raonic/Zimonjic. pic.twitter.com/fkELZAa7BB
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) February 20, 2017
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