Final Weekend: Scorching temps, blistering serves, and heavy Baccarat trophies
The 2026 BNP Paribas Open came to an end Sunday. The original 200-plus players who began the tournament have all made their way through the draws in swirling winds, chilly evenings, and scorching sun, winnowing themselves down to the eight winners who walk away with their Baccarat Crystal “Shooting Star” trophies in tow, already looking ahead to the next challenge. This was the 18th BNP Paribas Open since the bank took over the naming rights in 2009, and it didn’t disappoint (the BNP Paribas Open never disappoints). The 2026 tournament set a new attendance record: 527,626 over the two-week run, bringing them ever-closer to Grand Slam levels.
Saturday morning, American Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova of Czechia beat Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Aleksandra Krunic of Serbia, 7-6, 6-4. The win was an emotional one for Townsend, whose son A.J. turned five the same day. Earlier in the tournament, she told the crowd in the BNP Paribas suite that she was eyeing the trophy, and hoped to bring it home to A.J.; Saturday, her wish was granted, as her partner Siniakova played through a hip injury that forced her out of the singles competition, and this unstoppable team took the win.
Later in the afternoon, it was time for the deciding match in the men’s doubles draw. They’re not identical twins like Hall of Famers Bob and Mike Bryan—whose familiarity gave them a leg-up against everyone else on the doubles circuit—but first-cousins Valentin Vacherot of Monaco and Arthur Rinderknech of France made the best of their familial connection on their way to the final Saturday, eventually losing to Argentina’s Guido Andreozzi and Manuel Guinard of France 6-7, 3-6. It was Vacherot’s first visit to Indian Wells, and the team’s first-round win against Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien was the first time the cousins ever won a match together.
In stadium 3 the same day, the Mixed Doubles Invitational came to a close as top singles players Belinda Bencic of Switzerland and Italy’s Flavio Cobolli won their match against doubles experts Gabriela Dabrowski of Canada and Lloyd Glasspool of Britain, 6-3, 2-6, 10-7. This is the third year of the mixed doubles here, with the largest purse so far: $1M.
It took Aryna Sabalenka of Belarus three BNP Paribas Open finals to get the trophy, and Sunday’s might have been the hardest to earn: on-court temps were sky-high, and her opponent, Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan, was dialed in and ready for a tough fight. In the end, the championship rested on a nervy third-set tiebreak, during which Sabalenka saved a championship point before winning 3-6, 6-3, 7-6. This win is extra extra for the world no. 1: she has a new engagement ring (which came with a fiancé, Georgios Frangiulis), a new puppy (Ash, an adorable Cavalier King Charles spaniel), and now a new WTA 1000 title. Not a bad fortnight at the office.
The second final was no less nervy. Two tall, lanky baseline hitters went head-to-head in the intense heat of Stadium 1, as Daniil Medvedev of Russia took on Italian Jannik Sinner in Sinner’s first final here at the BNP Paribas Open. The <
Most of the “Shooting Star” trophies and their owners are headed directly to Miami for the second half of the “Sunshine Double.” The first half was all about optimizing for the desert conditions; at the Miami Open, they’ll have a different set of challenges: Miami courts are “faster” than those in Indian Wells, Florida humidity makes the ball fly more slowly, and cramps will pose an even greater threat (humans use evaporation to cool themselves; that’s nearly impossible when it’s humid).
In professional tennis, every tournament can be fun, and they all have their pluses, but there’s only one Fifth Slam. As we write, the dome of the Coachella Valley sky is darkening to a deep purple, and the stars have emerged, ducking occasionally behind fronds of the fan palms that wave in the desert breeze. What remains of the twilight silhouettes the tops of the San Jacinto Mountains with citrus hues, and fans empty their see-through backpacks as they make plans to return next year to Tennis Paradise. We plan to join them.
Day 11: It’s a dry heat
Friday promises a high of 97 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden; standing in the center of Stadium 1 Plaza, we believe the promise will be kept. It’s hot at the BNP Paribas Open; run-from-shade-to-shade hot. Walk-past-hot-food-stands hot. Feel-for-the-redheads hot.
Last year’s Splotch Watch, in which we searched in vain for açai bowl mishaps, was a complete bust, because visitors to the BNP Paribas Open can manage themselves and their frozen treats at the same time. But this weekend’s hot weather might unleash Splotch Watch 2026: The Sweatening, as fans and athletes alike spend time in the sun and, well, perspire.
We won’t bother looking at lululemon-sponsored athletes, though, because the sportswear company just released a new fabric. ShowZero hides sweat patches by (magically) preventing the material from darkening when it’s wet.
Jannik Sinner, the top-seeded redhead at this year’s BNP Paribas Open, breezed past a tough opponent in his Thursday quarterfinal match. He moves on to the semis after defeating American Learner Tien 6-1, 6-2 in the midday heat.
Another ginger, the up-and-comer Talia Gibson of Australia, ended an epic run in her first WTA 1000 main draw ever, losing in three sets to 21-year-old Czech Linda Noskova, who’s also making a splash at this year’s tournament.
Elina Svitolina of Ukraine beat the no. 2 seed Thursday afternoon as the shadow of Stadium 2 slowly moved across the surface of the court for some welcome shade. Iga Swiatek of Poland battled back from a set down, forcing a third, but just couldn’t hold up against a full-court press from Svitolina. The plucky Ukrainian moves on to a semifinal match against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan.
This is going back a couple of days, but we’d be remiss not to celebrate That Point: Fans with Wednesday night-session tickets were treated to what most are calling the point of the tournament, between reigning champion Jack Draper and GOAT Novak Djokovic. We won’t attempt to describe it here, because it would take too long and we could never, ever do it the justice it deserves. But you should definitely look it up. Novak won the point, but it was a Pyrrhic victory; Draper took the match 4-6, 6-4, 7-6. (Draper went on to lose Thursday to Russian Daniil Medvedev.)
American Taylor Townsend and her partner Katerina Siniakova of Czechia are into the women’s doubles final with a win Thursday over the top-seeded Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini. Afterward, Townsend stopped by the BNP Paribas Suite to talk with interviewer Michelle Yu about making the finals, her little boy, and being the first mom ever to be world no. 1 in doubles.
“I’ve never been this far here in Indian Wells,” she said. “I’ve always had my eye on it; the trophy is so beautiful. So I’m really excited to play on Saturday. It’s actually super special for me, because my son’s birthday is on Saturday. [I told him] I might not be there; I’m going to try and bring you back the winner’s trophy.”
On being the first mom to make no. 1 in doubles: “It’s really special. I remember being young and thinking to myself, ‘I want to create a legacy.’ I never in a million years thought it would be in this way. [After I had my son] I knew I was coming back, but I didn’t know what the journey was going to be like…I said I was going to come back better than I left, but I didn’t know what that meant. And you know, I thought I was pretty good at tennis before, but apparently not as good as I am now.”
Finally, Townsend was asked about the inspiration for her TT brand of tennis wear: “For Indian Wells and Miami, I told them I want to look like a sunrise or a sunset. If you look at some of my dresses, there’s a gradient logo. So the pink, orange, yellows, reds: that was the theme…These ideas just come to me, and I give them to my team and they do a great job of executing them…I just love looking cute and being a girl out there.”
Another tournament, and another killer edit: Wilson just can’t stop winning, and we’re here for it. The sportswear company with the Best Taste in Tennis™ (our tagline, not theirs) treated the BNP Paribas Open with the respect it deserves as the “fifth slam,” unleashing an inspired desert kit at the start of the tournament. The muted tones and subtle details look good on all their athletes, and manage to avoid entirely the off-colors fiasco that Nike committed when they tried to do the same at the Aussie Open. Wilson’s olive, cream, and ochre-red have just the right amount of pop to keep it all out of the dirt.
We’re living through a bit of a Renaissance of former players who turn a tennis career into an equally successful life as a commentator. Sports Television Personality has always been a career path for retired pros, but there is a particularly large tranche of new voices on our screens and in our ears now: CoCo Vandeweghe, Chris Eubanks, Andy Roddick, Andrea Petkovic, and Sam Querrey, among others, have lately jazzed up a lineup that has sometimes been described as stodgy. We’re particularly excited to hear what straight-talker Andy Roddick has to say (on literally any subject) when the former men’s no. 1 joins ESPN shortly before Wimbledon, and to see if they can get him to wear a tie.
Day 10: This One’s for the Gingers
With the exception of wintertime indoor tournaments and covered stadiums when rain threatens, professional tennis is an outdoor sport, played in the open air, in sunny climes, on courts that concentrate the heat of the day and reflect the sun’s rays back up at you. For every player, preparing to play outdoors means figuring out how to stay warm, stay cool, keep cramps at bay, play in wind, play in sun. But for redheads, it’s a much more difficult prospect: How to stay outdoors in searing heat and exposure to UV rays, when your pain threshold may actually be lower (due to a gene mutation) and your skin stays pink NO MATTER WHAT (a difference in the amount, and type, of melanin in the skin of redheads means they can’t really tan).
Several gingers are here at the BNP Paribas Open this year. Throughout the tournament, photographer and fellow ginger Bryson Malone has been catching pics of players who are similarly russet (and one or two of questionable gingerness, like Jelena Ostapenko and pink-dyed Katerina Siniakova).
Their secret to surviving the Summer Down Under? The Sunshine Double? Cincinnati in August? High-spf sunscreen, ice towels, and hats. Always hats. That’s why we were so excited that Bryson captured Jannik with his glorious shock of hair in full view: it’s almost always hiding under a brim.
Day 9: Creamsicles and Mixed Doubles
After a weeklong respite, Coachella Valley temperatures are edging up again,
approaching 100F by the weekend. Competition at the BNP Paribas Open is heating up, too: day 8 in Tennis Paradise dawned on an interesting array of defeats the night before, and promised some of the best tennis matchups of the tournament.
The crowds at the BNP Paribas Open may not know it, but they play a huge part in the way a tournament can go. In the second-largest tennis stadium in the world, vocal support (or lack thereof) can make or break a point, a game, or a match. We’ve seen momentum shift several times in the last few days, as crowds develop favorites and get behind them.
It wasn’t an upset, exactly, but 31-seed Alex Eala’s loss to Linda Noskova of Czechia Tuesday night felt a little like one. The 20-year-old Eala’s vociferous Filipino fanbase makes noise—a lot of noise—and made it seem like she was the favorite. The 21-year- old Noskova, seeded higher at 14, kept her composure in the face of a boisterous crowd and booked her spot in the quarterfinals against qualifier Talia Gibson.
Cameron Norrie of Great Britain, who can employ a devastating defensive game in the face of just about any onslaught, did just that Wednesday morning against Aussie qualifier Rinky Hijikata. Norrie, who won here in 2021, was born in South Africa, grew up in New Zealand, plays for Great Britain and played college tennis for the TCU Horned Frogs. Horned Frogs fans show up at many, if not all, of his matches, and make themselves heard; fans from the other nations join in and make a Norrie crowd a major factor in any match. Norrie won 6-4, 6-2, and moves on to the quarters.
No. 2 seed Iga Swiatek asked a lot of questions of Czechia’s Karolina Muchova in the first match on Stadium 1 Wednesday. Thirteen-seed Muchova has a strong all-court game and is consequently many people’s favorite player to watch (including her opponent). But she had no answers in her fourth-round contest against the former world no. 1 from Poland, who played a nearly-perfect match in the desert conditions that she’s come to love. Swiatek will take on Elina Svitolina of Ukraine in the quarterfinals.
In a matchup between nice guys in bright colors, Spain’s Carlos Alcaraz took on
Norwegian Casper Ruud, whose new Yonex kit is a festival of neon-green patches and patterns. Alcaraz’s Nike kit is a little more subdued—it’s giving “creamsicle” vibes—but at least one of the shirts in the collection is of a shiny fabric that shimmers occasionally on television (or is it Alcaraz’s dazzling abilities?). The ice-pop prevailed Wednesday, as Alcaraz won 6-1 7-6. He’ll meet Cam Norrie next.
Russian Mirra Andreeva was all smiles on court Wednesday afternoon, in a women’s doubles match with fellow teen and rising star Victoria Mboko of Canada. The young duo lost in straight sets to Anna Danilina of Kazakhstan and Serbia’s Aleksandra Krunic, but there were none of the tears we saw after her heartbreaking loss to Czech Katerina Siniakova Monday.
The most on-court fun to be had during the last week of the BNP Paribas Open might be in the BNP Paribas Open Mixed Doubles invitational. This year’s event began Tuesday and runs through Saturday, with the largest-ever purse: $1,000,000. Serious prize money means top players are in the mix: Venus Williams joined American Christian Harrison, Stefanos Tsitsipas is sticking around to partner with fellow Greek Maria Sakkari, and top players Andrey Rublev, Karen Khachanov, Leylah Fernandez and Jelena Ostapenko all signed up to play. Perfect timing, too: Just as the main draw is down to the final eight men’s and women’s players, doubles and mixed-doubles are moving into the outer courts and keeping the grounds of the BNP Paribas Open hopping all day long.
Day 8: Seeds Fall (and Hottie Coach Bracket Upsets)
Tournament seeding rarely remains intact until the final, and titles are very hard to defend, but Monday was a barn-burner, even by those standards. By the end of the day, upsets, and smashed racquets, littered courts throughout the grounds of the BNP Paribas Open.
Defending champ Mirra Andreeva of Russia was un(seat)ed by un(seed)ed Czech
Katerina Siniakova, a preeminent doubles expert whose singles career never took the trajectory it appeared to be following at the outset. The BNP Paribas Open is all about late blooms and second chances, so cheers to Siniakova for the win and for eliciting not one but TWO broken racquets from the 18-year-old world no. 8. (We’re sad to see Andreeva out of the singles draw, but she and Canadian fellow teenager Victoria Mboko are into the quarterfinals for women’s doubles.)
Fresh Top-10 Club inductee Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, who has only recently begun to put some effort behind his phenomenal natural abilities and is now reaping the benefits, was up a set against qualifier Rinky Hijikata of Australia, but couldn’t shut the front door. He broke only one racquet en route to a 7-6, 6-7 3-6 loss in the hot sun of Stadium 3.
And 7th seed Taylor Fritz did an unaccountably self-defeating over-the-thigh racquet snap in the first set against fellow American Alex Michelsen, which may or may not have resulted in the loss of both sets and consequently the match.
Later in the evening, American Madison Keys, the 15 th seed, went down in three sets to Great Britain’s Sonay Kartal, ranked no. 54 in the world. No racquets were smashed but Keys, who won the 2025 Australian Open, is headed home to Florida to prepare for part two of the Sunshine Double: the Miami Open
Another upset, this time in Sam Querrey’s Hottie Coaches Bracket, happened Monday: Álvaro Alcaraz, coach-brother to world no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz, won the voting for top Hottie Coach, which appeared to be a shoo-in for his rival, former world no. 1 Marat Safin of Russia. The come-from-behind win surprised pundits; many expected Safin’s savoir-faire and long locks to clinch the victory. But in the end, it was Alcaraz’s unassuming demeanor that secured the trophy. No word yet on whether the prize will be the same as last year (a $15 Olive Garden gift card).
Tuesday, the crowds dissipated a bit, which meant shorter lines to enter the new
lululemon store in Retail Village. Lululemon is the official apparel and footwear outfitter for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open; the shop features an exclusive line of co-branded products, a personalization counter for making purchases even more bespoke, and a Lalaland café. The LA-based coffee shop is serving unusual flavors with espresso and matcha in the cutest cups in Coachella Valley. We can confirm that the Einspanner, the Matcha Squared, and the Banana Cloud Matcha are all worth the wait.
Around midday on the Village Stage, Bryan Bros. Bandmember Bob or Mike Bryan—it’s hard to tell unless they’re next to each other and even then we need them to tell us—was setting up instruments in preparation for a concert under the shades of the Tennis Paradise Pavilion. The identical twins and former world no. 1 doubles team has a long history of playing here in Indian Wells, sometimes even between matches. The twins retired from tennis in 2020, but their high-energy music still rocks the BNP Paribas Open crowd.
As the music played, there was more tennis (and there were more upsets) happening in stadiums 1 and 2. American Learner Tien beat Alejandro Davidovich-Fokina of Spain in a tight three-setter, saving two match points before winning 4-6, 6-1, 7-6. He’s moving on to the quarterfinals of a Masters 1000 for the first time. And Australian qualifier Talia Gibson continues her historic run after beating Italy’s Jasmine Paolini in three sets. It’s the Aussie’s first win over a top-10 player, and her first-ever WTA quarterfinal.
This year, it seems as though every female tennis player has a new dog. So in addition to the soccer, the socializing, the gender-reveals, the working out and the Frisbee golf, the players’ lawn is now also an unofficial off-leash area. Given the number of used tennis balls available on-site, and the way players practice throwing things to improve their service motions, maybe Chuckit! ball launchers should litter the grass the way broken racquets have littered the courts recently.
Day 7: Extreme Magnetism, Cousin Goals, and Lalaland Matcha Confections
We’re into the fourth round of the BNP Paribas Open—80 players have been eliminated from each singles draw—but there’s lots of tennis happening, and stadiums are full on day seven here in Indian Wells.
Tennis is one of the very few sports in which a panoply of superhuman athletes perform superhuman feats in stadiums next to each other at the same time, as fans wander back and forth for a glimpse at different kinds of greatness. Wandering is a little easier now that the middle-weekend crowds have dissipated; it also means shorter lines to enter the new lululemon store in Retail Village. Lululemon is the official apparel and footwear outfitter for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open; the shop features an exclusive line of co-branded products, a personalization counter for making purchases even more bespoke, and a Lalaland café. The LA-based coffee shop is serving unusual flavors with espresso and matcha in the cutest cups in Coachella Valley. We can confirm that the Einspanner, the Matcha Squared, and the Banana Cloud Matcha are all worth the wait.
We at Racquet maintain a journalistic neutrality when it comes to professional tennis players. Where, say, a Novak Djokovic is concerned, we are willing to grant him statistical GOAT status, but beyond that we do not venture. Except that Monday we attended a Novak Djokovic press conference, and damned if his sheer power and intelligence and charisma didn’t reach out through those eyes and make us dream of being the reporter who asks The World’s Best Question and gains his undying respect. There was no opportunity, sadly, as Novak had a doubles match to play (more on that later). But time heals all things, so we will soon return to our regular programming unless we stumble into another Djoko presser.
It seems to us that every season, a sportswear company takes it upon themselves to visit an atrocity upon one or more of the players they sponsor. This time, it’s Yonex: we can only surmise that they saw what Nike did to Jannik Sinner (see: the AO hamburger condiment looks) and decided to one-up them with what can only be described as a high-vis travesty. Casper Ruud won last night’s match against well-dressed Monegasque Valentin Vacherot, in spite of the Norwegian’s sartorial handicap. We’ll have to get to see Ruud when he takes on Carlos Alcaraz in Round Four.
Vacherot and his first cousin, Frenchman Arthur Rinderknech, who both lost their singles matches last night, gamely took on the doubles superduo of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Novak Djokovic Tuesday in a packed Stadium 2. Tennis pundits often weigh in on whether top singles players (who rarely take the time for doubles) have an advantage against top doubles players. We may have our answer, because in round one, DjokoPas took out the veteran doubles team of Croatian Mate Pavic and Marcelo Arevalo of El Salvador. Round two, however, went the other way: Rinderot (Vacherknech?) won in straight sets.
Day 6: Flying Racquets, Major Upsets, and Dog Days on the Grass
The reigning women’s champion, Mirra Andreeva of Russia, may not be able to drive (legally) yet, but she definitely knows how to smash the living daylights out of an expensive, custom-built, strung-to-specs racquet. Eighth-seed Andreeva was un(seat)ed by un(seed)ed Czech Katerina Siniakova, a preeminent doubles expert whose singles career never took the trajectory it appeared to be following at the outset. Well, we are all about late blooms and second chances here at Racquet, so cheers to Siniakova for the win and for eliciting not one but TWO broken racquets from the world no. 8.
Fresh Top-10 Club inductee Alexander Bublik of Kazakhstan, who has only recently begun to put some effort behind his phenomenal natural abilities and is now reaping the benefits, was up a set against qualifier Rinky Hijikata of Australia, but couldn’t shut the front door. He broke only one racquet en route to a 7-6, 6-7 3-6 loss in the hot sun of Stadium 3.
And 7th seed Taylor Fritz did the unaccountably self-defeating over-the-thigh racquet snap in the first set against fellow American Alex Michelsen, which may or may not have resulted in the loss of both sets and consequently the match. Michelsen will meet Russian Daniil Medvedev or Sebastian Baez of Argentina in round four.
This year, it seems like every female tennis player has a new dog. So in addition to the soccer, the socializing, the gender-reveals, the working out and the Frisbee golf, the players’ lawn is now also an unofficial off-leash area and we fully approve of this off-label use. Given the number of used tennis balls available on-site, and the way players practice throwing things to improve their service motions, we think Chuckit! ball launchers should litter the grass the way racquet shards have littered the courts today.
There was one more upset today that we need to report: Álvaro Alcaraz, brother-coach to Carlos, took out top seed Marat Safin to win Sam Querrey’s Hottie Coach Bracket. We don’t make the news; we just report on it with no prejudice whatsoever or opinions on hair, aura, or swagger.
Middle Weekend: Tien, Tagger and Turning off Social Media
The middle weekend at the BNP Paribas Open is always an event, as the tennis-mad and the merely tennis-interested descend on Indian Wells to watch the pros in stadiums all over the grounds. Friday, March 6 saw a new BNP Paribas Open single-day attendance record as 58,828 people filed through the gates, shattering the previous record of 57,038 last year.
On Saturday, resurgent powerhouse Maria Sakkari, 30, of Greece, defeated Austrian Lilli Tagger in two sets, but not before the world got a good look at the rising teen’s one- handed backhand, a rarity for female players. World no. 119 Tagger, who turned 18 last month, started 2025 at 776 in the world before she went on to win the Junior French Open—the first Austrian to do so.
After a decisive win Saturday in front of her new puppy Rassy, defending BNP Paribas Open champion Mirra Andreeva stopped by the BNP Paribas suite to talk to interviewer Michelle Yu about her return to the desert. The 18-year-old told the crowd she felt a little nervous, a little pressure, and a lot of relief after the match (her 100th tour-level win). Asked about her promise last summer to get her driver’s license by now, there was a little hemming and hawing but she insists she can “get from a to b.”
Packing for a visit to the BNP Paribas Open often requires forethought and a bigger suitcase, because desert temps can skyrocket at dawn and plummet when the sun dips behind the San Jacinto Mountains. The second week of the tournament presents just such a wardrobe challenge: hot, sunny days, and nights that reach down to the mid-50s. Sunday was at first all sunscreen and hats and sunglasses and cool shade when possible; later, everyone embraced the cardigan life.
Of course, floppy hats and deep shade are off the table for the players—at least when they’re on court. The no. 28 seed, American Brandon Nakashima, fought a tough battle in the midday Sunday sun against the fourth seed, Alexander Zverev of Germany. They split sets, then played a game of attrition until Zverev prevailed and they could both run for shelter.
As coach (and former world no. 2) Michael Chang watched, Californian lefty Learner Tien, 20, returned Ben Shelton’s fastest serve of the day, a 144-mph BEHEMOTH from a player renowned for his serves, to win Shelton’s service game for the first time in the match. That secured a victory against Tien’s American lefty rival (who, to be fair, was under the weather and on antibiotics).
Japan’s Naomi Osaka needed three sets to dispatch Camilla Osorio of Colombia on Sunday afternoon on Stadium 2, winning a decisive 6 games to 1 in the final set. Osaka unveiled a new look at the start of the tournament: her Nike kit includes a leopard-print dress for play, and an amazing array of gold jewelry to walk out in (including something for her lip). The “huntress” vibe appears to work for the fashion-focused Osaka; she’s on to the fourth round. Sunday was International Women’s Day, and the BNP Paribas Open takes that very seriously.
At a panel on the Pavilion Stage, five outstanding leaders discussed ways to support women and girls as they navigate a world full of obstacles: Michelle Sprod, Managing Director at BNP Paribas, Steph Chung of Racquet Media, Michelle Davies of Lululemon, assistant BNP Paribas Open tournament director Peggy Michel, and Elizabeth Kunz of Girls on the Run, an organization supported by BNP Paribas that helps girls gain and maintain confidence through sports and physical activity. With journalist Michelle Yu , the panelists addressed challenges women face as they enter the workforce, and what seems to be a major issue today: social media.
“If you look at the research, social media is having a devastating impact on our children,” said Kunz. “…that’s why we’re so committed to having this program be in person, on teams where you are connecting and learning how to really communicate with one another in person, and what a healthy relationship looks like, what positive feedback looks like.” Peggy Michel’s advice? “Turn it off. They have to, because people are very cruel out there…so what we tell the women [tournament players] is that they really need to do whatever they want, but not spend a lot of time reading the negativity.
“We really need to get out to the public that these young women are trying so hard to play, and it’s a very difficult game. You’re out there all by yourself. You have a coach, but he or she can’t really say that much. So what I try to tell the girls is…go home every night and look at yourself in the mirror and say, ‘Wow, I am a very good tennis player. I’m a very good person.’”
Day 4: Hotter temps, bigger crowds, Hottie Coach Bracket update
Sam Querrey’s Hottie Coach Bracket continues to surprise and delight: it’s down to the final, between top-seed Marat Safin and unseeded shocker Álvaro Alcaraz. We are required to say that we have no horse in this race and will be happy for whoever raises high the limitless breadsticks at Olive Garden.
Perhaps the desert-to-desert odyssey endured by the three Russian men earlier this week was too much, because at least two are out of the tournament. Karen Khachanov went down to young Brazilian Joao Fonseca, and Andrei Rublev lost to young Canadian Gabriel Diallo just afterward. At press time, Daniil Medvedev remained standing, but plays later today.
Resurgent powerhouse Maria Sakkari , 30, of Greece, defeated Austrian Lilli Tagger in two sets Saturday, but not before the world got a good look at the rising teen’s one-handed backhand, a rarity for female players. World no. 119 Tagger, who turned 18 last month, started 2025 at 776 in the world before she went on to win the Junior French Open—the first Austrian to do so.
Though Tagger’s out of the tournament now (she won her first-ever main-draw match against Varvara Gracheva of France), there’s a buzz around the 6’1” phenom and her decision to embrace the one-hander; according to Tagger, she’s had the backhand since she was 12, when she won a bet with her coach by winning a tournament with it.
Her coach now is the Italian Francesca Schiavone, a former world no. 4 whose hardcore work ethic doesn’t sit well with every player. Tagger, though, puts in the hours with the French Open winner, to make sure her backhand remains a weapon, not a weakness.
In a press conference after today’s match, Sakkari spoke about playing against Tagger and her backhand:
“[Playing against a player with a one-hander] is tough, because at the same time they usually have a good slice. But if you play fast into that shot…it’s always a ‘hole,’ I would say. Not that she has a bad backhand—it’s very good, and I’m sure she’ll develop it—but, yeah, it’s a surprise to see a player with a one-handed backhand. Especially being that young.
…She’s very nice, very polite, and I can tell she works hard. I mean, you cannot work with Francesca [Schiavone] if you’re not a hard worker, because she’s going to make you work hard…I think this age is when you have to really put in the hours, and if you don’t—I don’t care how talented you are, at some point, you might have a good result, but it’s not going to last.”
Look for Tagger—and her down-the-line blisterer—to stick around.
Day 3: Novak Baby Oracle, Naomi on Gambling Threats
Friday at Indian Wells was a little cooler, a little cloudier, and a whole lot busier. Lines to get through the gates wound around chock-full parking lots, but the organizers of this tournament know how to manage crowds; things moved quickly, and the enormous facility absorbed the extra fans with ease.
The players’ lawn continues to be a hub for the athletes and their camps to work out and chill. Today, though, it was also the location of a fan gender-reveal: the expecting parents, standing on the catwalk that runs above the lawn, lowered a piece of paper on a string down to GOAT and Baby Oracle Novak Djokovic (who might be the lawn’s biggest fan, because honestly he seems to be there all the time). The big news: It’s a girl. Congratulations to the happy couple.
Turns out, Venus Williams stuck around Indian Wells after her first-round loss to Diane Parry after all. She was watching the Ben Shelton-Reilly Opelka slugfest yesterday, just sitting there in the normal human stands, watching tennis with her new husband like a regular person, instead of the Serene Queen that she is. As she watched, the so-called servebots (not our word) did servebot things and went to two tiebreakers before Shelton prevailed in the third.
Later, Jasmine Paolini of Italy toughed out a three-setter against Austria’s dangerous Anastasia Potapova, and moves on to a match with another strong opponent: Australian Ajla Tomljanovic.
We never want to use the word “last” in reference to Gaël Monfils, because we don’t want to imagine a future in which he’s not playing, but the Frenchman did lose to Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in his last match at the BNP Paribas Open. We were not alone in our tearful admiration; La Monf got a standing ovation more than once during the match, but none more effusive than when he walked off court with a wave. Sniff.
When asked about the potential WTA data leak in connection with players getting threats from online gamblers, a spokesperson familiar with the situation told us that the WTA has investigated reports of a data leak, and found no evidence of any breach. In her post-match press conference, Naomi Osaka addressed the situation:
Q. A Turkish player was threatened with violence last night if she didn’t lose her match today in Turkey, possibly because of a WTA data breach. I’m wondering, A, were you affected by the breach? B, how you feel about the increase in sports gambling and incidents like this.
NAOMI OSAKA: Like, in person?
THE MODERATOR: I can provide some information about this after the press conference.
NAOMI OSAKA: I was looking, because I haven’t heard about this at all, actually. I can tell the Turkish player was Zeynep, right?
Q. No. Panna
NAOMI OSAKA: Zeynep is Turkish, right?
Q. She is, but a different Turkish player.
NAOMI OSAKA: No, I mean, that’s really crazy. I’m sorry, I don’t have like an in-depth…
Q. Do you have any opinion just about sports gambling in general?
NAOMI OSAKA: Sports gambling?
Q. Have you been affected in that way?
NAOMI OSAKA: Probably, but I don’t — like, I just live my life, and whatever happens, it’s whatever, which is either a really, like, positive way of thinking or negative, I don’t know, but that’s just how I deal with it.
I think sports gambling—it’s harsh to say it’s terrible, because obviously I’m an athlete, and so I’m living on the other side of it—but I don’t see a positive to it, especially when people don’t treat the athletes as human.
And I get some people, like, bet absurd amounts of money, but that’s their responsibility and they shouldn’t be taking it out on the athlete, because I think we care more if we win or lose than the person betting money. So to like threaten someone’s life over it is insane.
Day 2: Hottie Coach Brackets, Queen Vee & Escape from Oman
Day two of main-draw play began with another perfect sunrise over the Coachella Valley. Not long after the orange-pink glow of the desert sun hit the ochre walls of Stadium 1, players began to filter into the grounds and onto the lawn to socialize and blow off steam.
The player lawn at the BNP Paribas Open is famous for being perfectly situated and perfectly sodded and just a perfectly delightful place to wind down after a match or wind up before one. And the digs keep getting better: The outdoor workout space at the southwest side of the lawn has expanded, there are more shaded cabanas for players to relax in, and there’s a new disc-golf basket for impromptu ultimate games. Of course, one of the most popular uses of the grassy expanse remains pickup soccer (GOAT Novak Djokovic in particular takes full advantage of the tiny goals on the pitch).
Grigor Dmitrov of Bulgaria took advantage of the cooler temperatures Thursday in a three-set morning-into-afternoon match against Terence Atmane of France. Tennis pundits are always sounding the death-knell for the one-handed backhand, rightly pointing out that there’s less available power when you don’t use both hands to propel and steady the racquet. But there’s power of a different kind when you can open up a one-handed winner down the line, and that’s just what Dmitrov did: the 34-year-old defeated Atmane and moves into the second round, where he’ll meet world no. 1 Carlos Alcaraz.
On Wednesday evening, it was a battle between two of a maybe-not-dying-just-yet breed: Canadian Denis Shapovalov’s lefty masterpiece of a one-hander took out Stefanos Tsitsipas’ lissome righty version. The loss is another in a worrying series of early-round defeats for the Greek, whose on-again, off-again coaching relationship with his father Apostolos is currently on after a recent session of musical chairs with Djokovic’s ex-coach, Goran Ivanisevic. (Ivanisevic is considered a “supercoach,” which explains why he’s always in high demand, if sometimes only briefly: in 2025, he was Elena Rybakina’s coach as well; now, he’s on the team of 21-year-old Frenchman Arthur Fils.)
There’s absolutely nothing worrying about 29-year-old American Taylor Townsend’s game. The former world no. 1 in doubles continues to prove a worthy opponent on the singles court as well: she roundly defeated Marie Bouzková of Czechia 6-2, 6-1 on Thursday morning. Townsend plays in her own TT brand of tennis wear, co-created with designer Alexander-John, which she debuted last summer. The custom-made apparel sometimes features a T-Rex motif, because her 4-year-old son loves dinosaurs.
Later in the day, wildcard recipient Venus Williams, who at 45 is the oldest player in the tournament and the oldest woman ever to play here, lost to qualifier Diane Parry of France in three sets. Williams’ serve is still the dominant weapon it’s always been during her storied 32-year career, but Parry’s all-court game had all the answers.
Williams often chooses to play doubles as well at tournaments, but not this time—she’s free to head home to Florida, where she might get a wildcard to play in the Miami Open two weeks from now.
Three Russian singles players who were stranded in the Middle East, and whose participation in the BNP Paribas Open was in question, have made it to Indian Wells the hard way: by driving for hours to reach Oman, flying from there to Istanbul, and catching another plane to Los Angeles. Karen Khachanov, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are happily all seeded players, with byes in the first round. Maybe we were projecting, but Medvedev, the 11th seed, looked relieved and happy to be there as he signed autographs in the sunshine on Thursday afternoon.
Finally, the Hottie Coach bracket has reached the final four. Two of Tennis Channel commentator Sam Querrey’s top seeds still stand (Top-seed Marat Safin is up against Patrick Mouratoglou), but on the other side of the bracket, two March surprises will go head-to-head: Álvaro Alcaraz takes on Ryan Harrison. Watch this space for updates.
Day 1: Draw Ceremonies, Familiar Faces, Extracurriculars
Tennis-world excitement reaches a fever-pitch in early March each year, as pros and their entourages, fans and sun-seekers descend on the Coachella Valley for the first 1000-level event of the tennis calendar. The BNP Paribas Open is the first 1000 of the year, but it’s also the biggest: last year, a record 504,000 fans packed the 54-acre tournament grounds; Stadium 1 here is the second-largest tennis arena in the world; and players split the largest pot of prize money outside the four majors: $9,415,725. All of which earns the BNP Paribas Open the unofficial title of The Fifth Slam.
And why not? This is, after all, Tennis Paradise: perfect weather, at a perfect facility, with beautiful hotels and homes to stay in, in an improbably gorgeous setting. The ball flies higher here, but the purple courts are grittier (and therefore a little “slower”); a perfect combination for many.
It’s also the only major tournament on the West Coast (in fact, it’s the only one west of the Rocky Mountains), which adds to its mystique and feeds the tennis fever of a major chunk of the US population at a time when many people are looking for a reason to head south for a week or two.
Showing impeccable timing, Coachella Valley temperatures are moderating after they hit record highs last week. The welcome cool-down comes just in time for the start of main-draw play (but not before hard-working qualifiers slogged their way through sweaty rounds for a spot in the tournament). The weather ahead looks downright perfect for watching—and playing—tennis: pleasant, sunny days, and coolish nighttime temps that make you happy you packed a light jacket for the evening matches.
Real ones know that the fun at the BNP Paribas Open begins way before the start of main-draw play; as early as last weekend, hard-core fans sat courtside watching qualifiers fight their hearts out, and pored over the practice schedule to make sure they’d see top players hitting on the outer courts.
For the first time ever, Tennis Channel covered Monday’s main draw reveal at Stadium 1 Plaza. There were no surprises, exactly, but who-plays-who is of vital importance to the athletes and those who want to watch them. First-round popcorn matches abound: Italian Matteo Berrettini, who had to withdraw from the Australian Open in January due to a recurring abdominal injury, takes on 37-year-old Adrian Mannarino of France, a wily veteran who knows how to outlast big hitters. On the women’s side, Yulia Putintseva of
Kazakhstan, who registers every “out” call as a personal affront, plays former world no. 2 Paula Badosa of Spain. Badosa retired during a match in Dubai in February; fingers crossed that her on-again-off-again back injury is off for good.
Novak Djokovic, a five-time BNP Paribas Open champ, is back again and looking to win a sixth title, which would break the record he shares with the retired Swiss Roger Federer. The 38-year-old Serbian GOAT is the no. 3 seed, behind Spaniard Carlos Alcaraz and Italian Jannik Sinner. Djoko will have to get past them both if he wants to break that record.
Japan’s Naomi Osaka, 28, is the 16 seed this year; this four-time grand slam winner and former world no. 1 is mounting a comeback after a pregnancy in 2023 and a slow start in her first years back. She appears to be in top form now, ready for whoever she meets after her first-round bye. What didn’t wane in her absence from the tour is her flair for the dramatic when it comes to fashion; she regularly pushes the tenniswear envelope in partnership with Nike. In January, she stepped onto court at the Australian Open in a jellyfish-inspired ensemble designed by Robert Wun that included a parasol, a wide-brimmed hat, and a veil. No word on Osaka’s plan for this year’s BNP Paribas Open, but we won’t be sad if there’s a theme involved.
Last year’s champions are back in the desert getting ready to defend their titles, but things have changed for each since last year. Men’s champ Jack Draper, the 14th seed this year, is sporting a new buzzcut; Mirra Andreeva, the no. 8 seed, is sporting something cuter: Rassy, her new ultra mini labradoodle. If last year is any guide, the canine will be courtside for two weeks while Andreeva slays all comers.
The players aren’t the only ones locked in fierce competition this year. Sam Querrey, former player and fan-favorite commentator for ESPN and Tennis Channel, has reprised the Nothing Major Podcast’s “Hottie Bracket,” this year pitting coaches against each other for the dubious honor of top Hottie Coach (Matteo Berrettini won last year’s Hottie Bracket for players and took home a $15 gift card for Olive Garden). And things are heating up: as of press time, there had already been one walkover (Christian Ruud bowed out to top-seed Marat Safin).
Rest assured, Querrey’s doing loftier things, too: LA’s Sweetfin poké has set up shop on the tournament grounds, and they’re featuring Sam Q’s Salmon Bowl, made by the man himself when he has time. Food collabs are a thing here: you may remember the buzz last year around the new OAKBERRY açai bowl location in Stadium 1 and ArynaSabalenka’s signature Tiger Bowl.
On the eve of main-draw play, top players joined forces Tuesday night for the co-ed Eisenhower Cup. Teams played “tiebreak 10s” for a $200,000 purse. Two last-minute replacements were announced before the event: American Learner Tien stepped in for Andrey Rublev, and Kazakh Alexander Bublik played for Daniil Medvedev. Both Rublev and Medvedev were stuck in Dubai thanks to bombing in the region; they are reportedly making their way to Indian Wells, having made it to Istanbul on Tuesday afternoon. Each has a bye for his first round, and won’t play until Friday; here’s hoping a day or two in the desert sun will be enough to cure the jet lag.