In a baffling move by the Indian Wells tournament organizers, the traditional Plexipave court surface has been replaced by Laykold, just days before the commencement of the 2025 edition of the event. The unexpected change left defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz, perplexed.
Indian Wells, a combined Masters and WTA 1000 event, has long been recognized for its slower hard courts. The unique court conditions have made it one of the most challenging titles to clinch in the world of tennis. The sudden shift from Plexipave to Laykold, a surface currently employed at the Miami Open and US Open, has thus raised eyebrows.
Carlos Alcaraz, the reigning champion and the second-seeded player at Indian Wells, voiced his bemusement at the change. Having won the title in both 2023 and 2024, including victories over Daniil Medvedev in the finals, Alcaraz has carved out a niche for himself in the desert event. The Spaniard candidly admitted, “The court is faster, right? Honestly, it’s a change that I didn’t understand. It was the same court for 25 years, and now it has changed. I don’t know why they did it.”
Despite his confusion, Alcaraz exudes confidence and believes his adaptability will serve him well. He said: “I think I play great tennis anyway, even though the courts are a bit faster. But all I can say is I didn’t understand when I saw it.”
If Alcaraz manages to overcome the sudden change and secure a victory, he will join the esteemed company of Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic, who have each won three consecutive titles at the event. A potential quarterfinal showdown with Djokovic could be on the cards, adding another layer of intrigue to the tournament.
However, the tournament will miss the presence of world No. 1 Jannik Sinner, who is serving a three-month suspension. Alcaraz and Sinner have been rivals on the ATP Tour, with their matches becoming a highlight of the circuit. Reflecting on Sinner’s absence, Alcaraz said, “Well, it didn’t change at all. Jannik’s not playing, but there are a lot of the best players in the world playing here. I think the draw is really open, and a lot of players are playing great tennis. For me, it doesn’t change at all. I’m just focused on my things, on myself, and I try to play good tennis here.”
After receiving an opening-round bye, Alcaraz is set to face either Quentin Halys or qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta in the first match of his title defense. Potential matchups against the 27th seed Denis Shapovalov and 14th seed Grigor Dimitrov could follow, before a possible clash against Djokovic. If Alcaraz can navigate through these challenges, a finals showdown against world No. 2 and first seed Alexander Zverev awaits.
Despite the unexpected change and the uncertainty it brings, Alcaraz remains a firm favorite to clinch the title at Indian Wells. His quest for a ‘three-peat’ is set to unfold in an event that will be watched closely by tennis fans around the globe.