Defending champion and world number one Novak Djokovic returns to Indian Wells in his quest for a fourth BNP Paribas Open crown.
Djokovic added to his 2008 and 2011 titles with victory at the ATP Masters 1000 event last year, trumping four-time champion Roger Federer 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7-5).
The 2015 Australian Open winner, who guided Serbia to the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup over the weekend, now has the chance to match Federer's feat when the tournament gets underway on the hard courts in Indian Wells on Wednesday.
Djokovic will be hoping to go one step better in the United States than he did in the United Arab Emirates, where he lost to Federer in the final of the Dubai Open last month.
"I actually do feel good about how I play and how I feel physically, and I'm motivated," Djokovic said.
"So I just hope I can continue to maintain that level of high performance throughout the season."
Motivation is not an issue for Federer, with the 17-time grand slam winner on the cusp of a 50th victory in Indian Wells.
The Swiss star is three wins shy of the half-century milestone at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where he has triumphed in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012.
And Federer (9,205) - the world number two - has not given up hope of overhauling Djokovic (13,205) atop the men's rankings
"I'd love to get back to World No. 1," he said.
"But Novak is making it very difficult.
"My whole season is geared towards peaking at Wimbledon. I'd love to win there one more time."
World number three Rafael Nadal also has the chance to clinch a fourth Indian Wells title and the Spaniard finds himself slowly returning to peak form.
Nadal - winner of the Masters event in 2007, 2009 and 2013 - struggled at the start of the year after working his way back to the court following appendix surgery, bundled out in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park.
However, the 14-time grand slam winner's performances have gradually improved since then, with a semi-final berth in Rio de Janeiro followed by victory at the Argentina Open last month.
While Andy Murray, Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, Stan Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych are to feature, all eyes will be on returning duo Marin Cilic and Juan Martin del Potro.
Cilic - last year's US Open champion - has not played this season due to a shoulder injury but the Croatian will take to the court in Indian Wells.
"What I'm looking for mostly is to start to play tournaments again," Cilic told CNN.
"I haven't enjoyed playing any matches since 2014 [Barclays ATP World] Tour Finals, and now to come back to play in Indian Wells is for sure going to be really exciting."
As for former world number four Del Porto - hampered by a wrist injury - he is set to play his first tournament since the Sydney International in January after being granted a wildcard.