Can Carlos Alcaraz defend his title at Indian Wells 2025?
The 2025 BNP Paribas Open, better known as Indian Wells 2025, kicks off next Wednesday. This tournament, organized by both the WTA and the ATP, is considered a prestigious event, thanks to its status as a Masters tournament. In other words, there are many points up for grabs. This is reflected in the field of participants, as both the WTA and ATP tournaments in Indian Wells feature the entire world top ten. Only Jannik Sinner will be absent from the BNP Paribas Open: the Italian world number one is serving a doping suspension and will therefore be unable to compete for the title at Indian Wells 2025.
Favorites to win ATP Indian Wells 2025
Despite Sinner's absence from the 2025 BNP Paribas Open, there are still plenty of names in contention for the title at this ATP 1000 tournament. Alexander Zverev, the current world number two, is the top seed, and Carlos Alcaraz will undoubtedly try to defend his title. The Spaniard won the past two editions of Indian Wells and both times proved too strong for Daniil Medvedev in the final, who is also participating and therefore certainly considered one of the favorites for the title. With players like Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, and Frances Tiafoe, there are also many strong Americans competing who are sure to prove themselves on home soil.
Another contender for the title is Novak Djokovic. The Serb has won the Indian Wells tournament an impressive five times, the last time being in 2016. Nevertheless, every tennis fan knows you can never discount Djokovic, and that's why he's once again a favorite in this tournament. The same goes for the in-form Felix Auger-Alliassime, who has already won two titles this year, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, who was the winner at the ATP tournament in Dubai last week. Add to that the names of players like Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev, and Casper Ruud, and you already know that Indian Wells is going to be a very enjoyable – and exciting – tournament.
Lots of outsiders at WTA Indian Wells
Not only the ATP elite, but also the entire WTA elite will travel to America to compete in the 2025 BNP Paribas Open. The battle for the overall title at the Indian Wells tennis tournament has never been more exciting, thanks to the diverse array of women in top form. For example, Emma Navarro convincingly won the Mérida (Mexico) tournament last week, and the still-only seventeen-year-old Mirra Andreeva became the youngest woman ever to win in Dubai. Shortly before that, Amanda Anisimova, who at the time wasn't ranked in the world's top twenty, lifted the trophy at the prestigious Doha tournament, and Belinda Bencic also recently added a title to her list of achievements.
It's clear that there are plenty of surprises lurking, especially considering that of the aforementioned names, only Emma Navarro (WTA-8) is in the world's top ten. Other names, long-standing leaders in women's tennis, are also present at the Indian Wells tournament. From world number one Aryna Sabalenka to Australian Open winner Madison Keys, and from defending champion Iga Swiatek to home favorites like Coco Gauff and Jessica Pegula: the list of "contenders for the overall victory" is quite extensive this year. With Elena Rybakina and Paula Badosa, among others, there are even more former Indian Wells champions on the lineup.
Which Dutch people will participate in Indian Wells 2025?
With the WTA and ATP rankings combined, there are a total of three Dutch players who will try to reach the BNP Paribas Open 2025 as far as possible. In the men's event, Botic van de Zandschulp and Tallon Griekspoor will compete in Indian Wells, while Suzan Lamens will compete in the women's main draw. Lamens, who is steadily improving on the WTA Tour and rapidly climbing the world rankings, will face Marie Bouzkova in her first round. If the Dutch player, ranked 64th in the world, manages to defeat her Czech opponent, she will face Kazakh Rybakina in the next round.
Griekspoor and Van de Zandschulp have also been unlucky in the draw. Griekspoor will play Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round of Indian Wells, and if he wins this tough match, he'll face Zverev in the second round. Van de Zandschulp lost his qualifying match to Matteo Gigante, but as a lucky loser, he'll still be able to participate in the main draw of the BNP Paribas Open. There, he'll face Australian bad boy Nick Kyrgios. If he manages to eliminate Kyrgios, another tough match awaits our compatriot. In that case, Van de Zandschulp's opponent will be none other than Djokovic.
Indian Wells 2025 Schedule and Prize Money
The main draw of Indian Wells 2025 begins on Wednesday, March 5th and will run until Sunday, March 16th, when the men's final will be played. The winner of both the WTA and ATP Indian Wells tournaments will receive €1,155,533, while the runner-up will take home €614,505 in prize money. The semi-finalists will earn €341,381, and those reaching the quarterfinals will be guaranteed €194,333.
Latest ATP Indian Wells winners
2024: Carlos Alcaraz
2023: Carlos Alcaraz
2022: Taylor Fritz
2021: Cameron Norrie
2019: Dominic Thiem
Latest WTA Indian Wells winners
2024: Iga Swiatek
2023: Elena Rybakina
2022: Iga Swiatek
2021: Paula Badosa
2019: Bianca Andreescu
