Just when you thought the tennis fever had subsided post-Australian Open, the heat is back on with the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Known as the “fifth slam,” this prestigious event runs from the 2nd to the 16th of March, boasting a star-studded roster that includes top-seeded players like Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Daniil Medvedev, Emma Raducanu, and much more.
The stakes are high, and so is the reward. The 2025 Indian Wells edition offers a generous prize pool over a whopping $19 million, to be precise, $19,387,080, marking a growth of 7.76% compared to the previous year’s purse of $17,991,110.
In terms of individual earnings, the official ATP Tour website reveals a potential paycheck of $1,201,125 for both the men’s and women’s singles champions. This figure represents a significant boost of 9.19% from 2024, when the prize money was curtailed to $1,100,000 from 2023’s reward of $1,262,220. In addition to the substantial fiscal incentive, the singles champions will also receive an additional 1,000 points to elevate their standings in the ATP and WTA rankings.
The runners-up aren’t left out either, with a prize of $638,750, a 9.19% increase from 2024’s $585,000. While the overall prize money for Indian Wells has skyrocketed by 106.47% since 2012, with a recent focus on increasing earnings for qualifiers and early-round exits, this year registers a decrease for first-round losers, who will receive $25,375, a drop of 15.56% from the previous year.
Looking ahead to the tournament, the spotlight is on Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, the defending champions and hot favorites to win the 2025 Indian Wells title. Alcaraz, the former World No.1, has shown his dominance in Indian Wells over the last three seasons, missing out only in 2022 when he was taken down in the semis by his idol, Rafael Nadal. However, he quickly regained his winning momentum, conquering the 2023 and 2024 editions of the tournament, defeating Daniil Medvedev in both finals.
On the WTA front, former World No.1 and five-time Major winner Iga Swiatek is anticipated to reign supreme. She clinched the title twice, first in 2022 when she bested Maria Sakkari, and then again in 2024 with another victory over Sakkari. Despite her formidable record, Swiatek is yet to secure a title in 2025, and after semi-final exits in both the Australian Open and Doha, she was eliminated in the quarterfinals at the Dubai Tennis Championships, losing to the young and upcoming 17-year-old champion Mirra Andreeva.
While Alcaraz and Swiatek are undeniably strong contenders, their path to victory may not be smooth sailing. Alcaraz, despite winning the ATP Rotterdam, has faced a quarterfinal exit in Doha last month. Swiatek’s performance has been somewhat shaky, with no title win thus far in 2025.
The Indian Wells 2025 promises to be a thrilling affair, with top players vying for the coveted title and the lucrative prize money. Will Alcaraz and Swiatek rise to the occasion and secure their spot as champions once again, or will we witness new victors emerge? The tennis world watches with bated breath.