In a shocking development, the Indian Wells Masters, the inaugural Masters 1000 of the season, has decided to switch surfaces after a quarter-century. The tournament organizers have opted for ‘Laykold’ over the long-standing ‘Plexipave’, marking a significant transformation that is expected to bring the courts closer to those at the Miami Open and the US Open.
Historically, the Indian Wells surface has been distinguished by its extreme slowness and high bounces. The transition to ‘Laykold’, however, indicates a shift towards a rapid and more aggressive style of play. Yet, the player fraternity seems divided in their opinion of the new surface, as revealed during the pre-tournament press conferences.
While some players believe the courts have become faster with lower bounces, others argue that the surface is slower than before. This divergence of views has stirred up a debate in the tennis community.
Former World No.1, Andy Roddick, offered his insights on the matter during his popular podcast. He discussed which players could potentially gain from this significant change. Roddick noted, “The ball is going to fly, because you can’t retro-fit air. That skinny air where there is 0% humidity on any day, so if you hit a kick serve…Indian Wells people go slow, that means Andy is not going to play well there because he plays better on fast surfaces.”
He further elucidated, “If it is going to a surface like a US Open or a Cincinnati, and you have that air where there is not an effective humidity to actually make the ball a bit heavier, you are going to see Reilly Opelka kicking serves over the third row. Ben Shelton should be licking his chops. But then you’re going Casper Ruud with his spin profile, that ball is just going to hit and explode off the court.”
This substantial change could, however, pose a challenge for Carlos Alcaraz, the current world number 3. Alcaraz who had a dominating presence on the previous surface would have been a top contender to win his third consecutive trophy in California. Yet, with the new surface, he could encounter some difficulties.
This recent development has introduced an interesting dynamic to the tournament. It remains to be seen how players adapt to the new surface and what impact it will have on their performance. This change may be a game-changer, offering a fresh experience to both players and fans alike.