Wikipedia / Indian Wells Open
Wikipedia / Indian Wells Open
The Indian Wells Open, known as the BNP Paribas Open for sponsorship reasons, is an annual professional tennis tournament held in Indian Wells, California, United States. It is played on outdoor hardcourts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, and is held in March. The tournament is part of the ATP 1000 events on the ATP Tour and part of the WTA 1000 events on the WTA Tour.
The tournament is the best-attended tennis tournament outside the four Grand Slam tournaments (493,440 in total attendance during the 2024 event); it is sometimes called the "fifth Grand Slam" in reference to this. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden has the second-largest permanent tennis stadium in the world, behind the US Open's Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York. The Indian Wells Open is the premier tennis tournament in the Western United States and the second largest tennis tournament throughout the United States and the Americas (behind the US Open in the Eastern United States).
Winning the Indian Wells Open and Miami Open in the same season is called the "Sunshine Double" — since they are a series of two elite, consecutive hard-court tournaments in the United States and are held in Florida (the Sunshine State) and the sunny desert community of Indian Wells.
Between 1974 and 1976, it was a non-tour event and between 1977 and 1989 it was held as part of the Grand Prix Tennis Tour. Both singles main draws include 96 players in a 128-player grid, with the 32 seeded players getting a bye (a free pass) to the second round.
Since 2024, mixed doubles has been introduced as a new category.
Location
Indian Wells lies in the Coachella Valley (Palm Springs area), about east of downtown Los Angeles.
The tournament is played in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden (built in 2000) which has 29 tennis courts, including the 16,100-seat main stadium, which is the second largest tennis-specific stadium in the world. After the 2013 BNP Paribas Open, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden started an expansion and upgrade of its facilities that includes a new 8,000 seat Stadium 2. The revamping of the tennis center also included a "Pro Purple" interior court color created specifically for the ATP 1000 events and first used at Indian Wells, citing the purple color being 180 degrees and exactly opposite the yellow of the ball.
History
The tournament was founded by former tennis pros Charlie Pasarell and Raymond Moore. It has been known by a number of names, and accepted numerous corporate sponsorships, throughout its existence. The French multinational banking group BNP Paribas has held the naming rights since 2009.
Originally the women's tournament was held a week before the men's event. In 1996, the championship became one of the few fully combined events on both the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women's Tennis Association tours.
The Indian Wells Open has become one of the largest events on both the men's and women's tours. In 2004, the tournament expanded to a multi-week 96-player field. Winning the Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open back to back has been colloquially termed the Sunshine Double. Dubbed the "Grand Slam of the West", it is the most-attended tennis tournament in the world other than the four Majors, with over 450,000 visitors during the 2015 event.
In 2009, the tournament and the Indian Wells Tennis Garden were sold to Larry Ellison.
On March 8, 2020, the tournament was postponed, and later canceled, to halt the potential spread of COVID-19.
A new category, mixed doubles, was introduced in 2024, with Storm Hunter and Matthew Ebden claiming the title in its very first edition.
Williams sisters boycott
Venus and Serena Williams refused to play the Indian Wells tournament from 2001 to 2014 despite threats of financial sanctions and ranking point penalties. The two were scheduled to play in the 2001 semifinal but Venus withdrew due to an injury. Amid speculation of match fixing, the crowd for the final loudly booed Serena when she came out to play the final and continued to boo her intermittently through the entire match, even to the point of cheering unforced errors and double faults. Williams won the tournament and was subsequently booed during the awards ceremony. Nine days later, while attending the Ericsson Open, Richard Williams, Serena and Venus's father, stated racial slurs were directed at him while in the stands at Indian Wells. He said that while he and Venus were taking their seats for the final, multiple fans used the racial slur and one spoke of skinning him alive. When asked about her father's allegations, Venus said "I heard what he heard." Indian Wells tournament director Charlie Pasarell said he was humiliated by the crowd's reaction, adding, "I was cringing when all that stuff was going on. It was unfair for the crowd to do that."
After a phone call from Larry Ellison (the multi-billionaire founder of Oracle, tennis enthusiast and most recent owner of the tournament), Serena Williams returned to Indian Wells in 2015, ending her 14-year boycott of the event. Venus Williams ended her boycott by competing in Indian Wells the next year.
Eisenhower Cup
The Eisenhower Cup is an exhibition mixed doubles tournament played the day before the start of the main draw. Teams consist of one ATP player partnered with one WTA player. Matches are played in the style of a 10pt tiebreaker, also known as Tie Break Tens. There have been 4 winning teams since the start of the mixed doubles format for the competition: Taylor Fritz/Aryna Sabalenka, Ben Shelton/Emma Navarro won once whereas Taylor Fritz/Elena Rybakina are two times champions. The 2026 prize money was $200,000, split between the two winners. The event had previously been played as a men's singles event in 2019, where Milos Raonic defeated Stan Wawrinka, and as a women's singles event in 2022 where Amanda Anisimova defeated Maria Sakkari. Other past participants include Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, Iga Swiatek, and Jessica Pegula.
Past finals
Men's singles
Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
6–3, 7–6 | |||
7–5, 6–2 | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
2–6, 6–1, 6–3 | |||
6–1, 7–6(7–5) | |||
Roscoe Tanner (2) | 6–4, 6–2 | ||
Final not held due to rain (tournament cancelled at the semifinal stage) | |||
Jimmy Connors (2) | 6–3, 7–6(7–5) | ||
3–6, 6–2, 7–5 | |||
6–4, 6–2 | |||
Jimmy Connors (3) | 6–2, 6–7(7–9), 6–3 | ||
6–1, 6–4, 3–6, 6–3 | |||
6–1, 6–3, 6–2 | |||
6–4, 6–4, 7–5 | |||
Boris Becker (2) | 7–5, 6–4, 2–6, 6–4 | ||
3–6, 2–6, 6–1, 6–2, 6–3 | |||
6–4, 5–7, 7–6(7–1), 7–6(8–6) | |||
4–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–4) | |||
6–3, 6–4, 7–5 | |||
Jim Courier (2) | 6–3, 6–3, 6–1 | ||
4–6, 6–3, 3–6, 6–3, 6–2 | |||
Pete Sampras (2) | 7–5, 6–3, 7–5 | ||
Michael Chang (2) | 7–5, 6–1, 6–1 | ||
Michael Chang (3) | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 | ||
5–7, 6–4, 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 | |||
6–4, 6–4, 6–3 | |||
7–6(7–5), 7–5, 6–1 | |||
6–1, 6–2 | |||
Lleyton Hewitt (2) | 6–1, 6–1 | ||
6–3, 6–3 | |||
Roger Federer (2) | 6–2, 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Roger Federer (3) | 7–5, 6–3, 6–0 | ||
6–2, 7–5 | |||
6–2, 5–7, 6–3 | |||
Rafael Nadal (2) | 6–1, 6–2 | ||
7–6(7–3), 7–6(7–5) | |||
Novak Djokovic (2) | 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 | ||
Roger Federer (4) | 7–6(9–7), 6–3 | ||
Rafael Nadal (3) | 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Novak Djokovic (3) | 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–3) | ||
Novak Djokovic (4) | 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–2 | ||
Novak Djokovic (5) | 6–2, 6–0 | ||
Roger Federer (5) | 6–4, 7–5 | ||
6–4, 6–7(8–10), 7–6(7–2) | |||
3–6, 6–3, 7–5 | |||
Not held (due to COVID-19 pandemic) | |||
3–6, 6–4, 6–1 | |||
6–3, 7–6(7–5) | |||
6–3, 6–2 | |||
Carlos Alcaraz (2) | 7–6(7–5), 6–1 | ||
6–2, 6–2 | |||
7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–4) |
Women's singles
Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
Manuela Maleeva (1/1) | 6–4, 6–1 | ||
Martina Navratilova (1/2) | 6–2, 5–7, 6–1 | ||
Martina Navratilova (2/2) | 6–2, 7–6(8–6) | ||
Monica Seles (1/1) | 6–3, 6–1 | ||
Mary Joe Fernández (1/2) | 3–6, 6–1, 7–6(8–6) | ||
Steffi Graf (1/2) | 6–0, 6–4 | ||
Mary Joe Fernández (2/2) | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Steffi Graf (2/2) | 7–6(7–5), 7–6(7–5) | ||
Lindsay Davenport (1/2) | 6–2, 6–1 | ||
Martina Hingis (1/1) | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Serena Williams (1/2) | 6–3, 3–6, 7–5 | ||
Lindsay Davenport (2/2) | 4–6, 6–4, 6–0 | ||
Serena Williams (2/2) | 4–6, 6–4, 6–2 | ||
Daniela Hantuchová (1/2) | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Kim Clijsters (1/2) | 6–4, 7–5 | ||
Justine Henin (1/1) | 6–1, 6–4 | ||
Kim Clijsters (2/2) | 6–4, 4–6, 6–2 | ||
Maria Sharapova (1/2) | 6–1, 6–2 | ||
Daniela Hantuchová (2/2) | 6–3, 6–4 | ||
Ana Ivanovic (1/1) | 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Vera Zvonareva (1/1) | 7–6(7–5), 6–2 | ||
Jelena Janković (1/1) | 6–2, 6–4 | ||
Caroline Wozniacki (1/1) | 6–1, 2–6, 6–3 | ||
Victoria Azarenka (1/2) | 6–2, 6–3 | ||
Maria Sharapova (2/2) | 6–2, 6–2 | ||
Flavia Pennetta (1/1) | 6–2, 6–1 | ||
Simona Halep (1/1) | 2–6, 7–5, 6–4 | ||
Victoria Azarenka (2/2) | 6–4, 6–4 | ||
Elena Vesnina (1/1) | 6–7(6–8), 7–5, 6–4 | ||
Naomi Osaka (1/1) | 6–3, 6–2 | ||
Bianca Andreescu (1/1) | 6–4, 3–6, 6–4 | ||
Not held (due to COVID-19 pandemic) | |||
Paula Badosa (1/1) | 7–6(7–5), 2–6, 7–6(7–2) | ||
Iga Świątek (1/2) | 6–4, 6–1 | ||
Elena Rybakina (1/1) | 7–6(13–11), 6–4 | ||
Iga Świątek (2/2) | 6–4, 6–0 | ||
Mirra Andreeva (1/1) | 2–6, 6–4, 6–3 | ||
Aryna Sabalenka (1/1) | 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(8–6) |
Men's doubles
Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
6–4, 6–4 | |||
2–6, 7–6, 6–4 | |||
6–4, 6–7, 7–6 | |||
7–6, 7–6 | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
6–4, 7–6 | |||
Final not held due to rain (tournament cancelled at the semifinal stage) | |||
7–6, 6–2 | |||
6–4, 3–6, 6–2 | |||
6–3, 6–3 | |||
5–7, 6–3, 6–2 | |||
3–6, 7–6, 6–3 | |||
6–4, 6–3 | |||
6–4, 7–6 | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
7–6, 7–5 | |||
4–6, 6–4, 6–3 | |||
7–6, 3–6, 6–3 | |||
4–6, 6–3, 6–3 | |||
6–4, 7–5 | |||
7–5, 6–3 | |||
6–4, 7–6 | |||
1–6, 6–2, 6–2 | |||
7–6, 4–6, 7–5 | |||
6–4, 7–6 | |||
7–6(7–4), 6–3 | |||
6–4, 7–6(7–5) | |||
6–2, 7–5 | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
3–6, 7–5, 6–4 | |||
6–3, 4–6, 7–5 | |||
7–6(8–6), 7–6(7–2) | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
3–6, 6–1, [14–12] | |||
7–6(10–8), 6–3 | |||
6–4, 6–7(5–7), [10–7] | |||
6–2, 7–6(7–3) | |||
6–3, 3–6, [10–6] | |||
6–4, 6–3 | |||
6–4, 6–7(3–7), [10–7] | |||
6–3, 7–6(7–5) | |||
6–7(1–7), 6–4, [10–8] | |||
7–6(7–4), 7–6(7–2) | |||
4–6, 6–4, [10–3] | |||
Not held (due to COVID-19 pandemic) | |||
6–3, 7–6(7–5) | |||
7–6(7–4), 6–3 | |||
6–3, 2–6, [10–8] | |||
7–6(7–2), 7–6(7–4) | |||
6–3, 6–4 | |||
7–6(7–3), 6–3 |
Women's doubles
Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
6–3, 6–7(4–7), 6–3 | |||
6–2, 7–6(8–6) | |||
Final not held due to rain | |||
6–3, 6–3 | |||
6–3, 6–4 | |||
6–2, 6–4 | |||
2–6, 6–4, 6–3 | |||
6–1, 6–4 | |||
6–3, 6–2 | |||
6–4, 2–6, 6–4 | |||
6–2, 6–2 | |||
6–2, 6–3 | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
7–5, 6–0 | |||
3–6, 6–4, 6–1 | |||
6–1, 6–2 | |||
7–6(7–3), 6–1 | |||
6–2, 7–5 | |||
6–3, 7–5 | |||
6–1, 1–6, [10–8] | |||
6–4, 3–6, [10–5] | |||
6–4, 2–6, [10–5] | |||
6–0, 7–5 | |||
6–2, 6–3 | |||
6–0, 5–7, [10–6] | |||
7–6(7–5), 6–2 | |||
6–3, 6–4 | |||
4–6, 6–4, [10–6] | |||
7–6(7–4), 6–2 | |||
6–4, 6–4 | |||
6–3, 6–2 | |||
Not held (due to COVID-19 pandemic) | |||
7–6(7–1), 6–3 | |||
7–5, 7–6(7–4) | |||
6–1, 6–7(3–7), [10–7] | |||
6–3, 6–4 | |||
6–2, 7–6(7–4) | |||
7–6(7–4), 6–4 |
Mixed doubles
Year | Champions | Runners-up | Score |
6–3, 6–3 | |||
6–7(3–7), 6–3, [10–8] | |||
6–3, 2–6, [10–7] |
Records
Men's singles
Most titles | 5 | |
Most finals | 9 | |
Most consecutive titles | 3 | |
Most consecutive finals | 3 | |
Most matches played | 79 | |
Most matches won | 66 | |
Most consecutive matches won | 19 | |
Most editions played | 18 | |
Best winning % active | 85.71% (24–4) | |
Youngest champion | 19y, 2m, 26d(1987) | |
Oldest champion | 35y, 7m, 11d(2017) |
Women's singles
Most titles | 2 | |
Most finals | 6 | |
Most consecutive titles | 2 | |
Most consecutive finals | 3 | |
Most consecutive matches won | 10 | |
Sunshine double
The term Sunshine Double is a feat in tennis achieved when a player wins the titles of both Indian Wells Open and the Miami Open tournaments back-to-back. For a list of players who have achieved the "Sunshine double" see Miami Open (tennis)#Sunshine Double.
See also
ATP Tour
WTA Tour
Notes
References
External links