Tennis aficionados, brace yourselves for the high-octane action set to unfold at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden! The qualifying rounds of this popular tennis event, often dubbed as the ‘Fifth Grand Slam,’ are already in motion, and anticipation is building for the main draw, scheduled for March 5 to March 16. With this being the 51st edition of the men’s tournament and the 36th for the women, the stage is set for some thrilling matches.
Within hours, the main draw will be revealed on March 3, and fans worldwide will learn the match-ups for this grand tennis spectacle. The tennis world’s brightest stars, including defending champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz, are already at the venue, eager to defend their titles and entertain the crowds with their dynamic performances.
The men’s category will witness the participation of tennis greats like Novak Djokovic, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz, among others. Women’s tennis will not be left behind, with Aryna Sabalenka aiming to secure her first Indian Wells singles title. Look out for the 2025 AO champion, Madison Keys, who is set to bring her fiery game to the court following her victorious run in Melbourne. Rising star Coco Gauff is another player to watch.
However, this year’s tournament will miss the number one ranked Jannik Sinner, currently serving a three-month ban for a doping case. On the women’s side, reigning Wimbledon champion Barbora Krejcikova has also withdrawn from the tournament.
The stakes are high at the 2025 Indian Wells, with a total prize money of $19,387,080, a considerable increase of about 7.76% from the previous year. Alongside this attractive prize money, champions will also gain a significant 1000 points at the tournament.
As for fans wondering where they can tune into this action-packed tournament, a plethora of broadcasters will ensure worldwide coverage. In Africa, Canal+Africa and Supersport Africa will broadcast the event, while viewers in Asia can tune into Unext and Youkou. In the Indian subcontinent, Sony/MSM will be the broadcaster, while Australia and Oceania can watch via beIN SPORTS Australia and Digicel.
European viewers can turn to Eurosport France, Polsat, Sky Deutschland, Sky Italia, Sky UK, SportKlub, SRG, Telefonica/Movistar, and Ziggo Sport. Middle East viewers can tune into beIN SPORTS Middle East, while North American viewers can watch via Tennis Channel and TSN. In South America, Central America, and The Caribbean, ESPN International Latam will broadcast the event.
Starting Tuesday, March 4, at 7 pm local time, the Tennis Channel will commence its broadcast schedule with live coverage of The Eisenhower Cup. The main tournament’s live coverage will begin on March 5. The Tennis Channel’s broadcast talent boasts a star-studded lineup, including Andy Roddick, Tracy Austin, Paul Annacone, Jim Courier, Lindsay Davenport, Coco Vandeweghe, Sam Querrey, Prakash Amritraj, Jason Goodall, Steve Weissman, Chanda Rubin, and others.
US fans can also live-stream the action from every court on the Tennis Channel App, marking the first time that the app’s users can access the traditional Tennis Channel television network on the platform at no extra cost. A new monthly subscription option for $9.99 allows fans to stream matches live and on-demand.
This year’s Indian Wells will also see a significant change as the tournament organizers have chosen to switch the surface provider from Plexipave to Laykold after nearly 25 years. Laykold, the same surface used in Miami and the US Open, offers a faster hard court surface, a departure from the slower and higher bounce conditions traditionally seen at Indian Wells.
BNP Paribas Open Chief Marketing Officer Philippe Dore hailed this change, stating that Laykold’s commitment to precision and consistency aligns with the BNP Paribas Open’s mission to offer an exceptional playing surface for players. This switch may favor players like Daniil Medvedev, Aryna Sabalenka, and Elena Rybakina, known for their stellar performances on faster courts. However, defending champions Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz, who excel on slower surfaces, may face challenges adapting to this change. Alcaraz, in particular, is aiming for his third consecutive Indian Wells title.
As the excitement mounts and tensions rise, one thing is certain: the 2025 Indian Wells tournament promises thrilling matches, monumental victories, and unforgettable moments. The question remains, will your favorite tennis star secure their place in the history books this year? Tune in to find out!