Set to unfold in the sun-kissed Californian desert, the third WTA 1000 tournament of 2025 – the much-anticipated Indian Wells Open – is bracing for an impressive array of tennis stars. The 36th edition of the monumental hard court event, running from March 5 to March 16, promises to be a thrilling spectacle of elite tennis.
Iga Swiatek, the current titleholder of Indian Wells, will return to defend her 2024 championship, earned through a resounding victory over Maria Sakkari. Meanwhile, Aryna Sabalenka, the world’s top-ranked female player, will be aiming to claim her inaugural Indian Wells title, having previously finished as runner-up in 2023.
The American contingent at the event will also be strong, with world number 3 Coco Gauff, Australian Open champion Madison Keys and Emma Navarro leading the charge; all are expected to be seeded in the top 10. The main draw of this tournament will feature a robust roster of 96 players, comprising of 76 direct entrants, 12 qualifiers, and eight fortunate recipients of wildcards.
In the wildcard category, two notable names have been confirmed: Venus Williams and Petra Kvitova. Williams, the former world number 1 and seven-time Grand Slam singles victor, will be making a return after a hiatus since last year’s Miami Open. Kvitova, the twice-crowned Wimbledon champion and former world number 2, is set to step back into the fray after a break from the tour since October 2023, following the birth of her first child.
The tournament will also see the return of five previous winners of the Indian Wells championship: Swiatek (2022 and 2024), Elena Rybakina (2023), Paula Badosa (2021), Naomi Osaka (2018) and Victoria Azarenka (2012 and 2016).
Currently, the WTA entry list for the event remains intact, with no player withdrawals. In an exciting development, British sensation Emma Raducanu has secured her direct entry into the Indian Wells main draw, based on her current ranking. This is a significant milestone for Raducanu, as she required a wildcard to participate in the first two WTA 1000 events of 2025 in Doha and Dubai.
The projected seeds for the 2025 WTA Singles Entry List at Indian Wells, as of February 24, 2025, includes a mix of established stars and rising talents, promising an enthralling tournament. The list features names like Aryna Sabalenka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Madison Keys, Emma Navarro, and Emma Raducanu, among others.
With a star-studded line-up, the 36th edition of Indian Wells promises to be an unmissable event, teeming with top-tier tennis and breathtaking performances. With each passing day, the anticipation for the tournament grows, setting the stage for what promises to be a truly memorable event in the 2025 tennis calendar.