The Indian Wells Doubles Draw of 2025 has recently come under heavy criticism from leading American tennis figures who have voiced their discontent over the seemingly declining interest in the doubles tournament. The shift in focus from doubles to singles play is a trend that has been growing in recent years, exemplified by the journey of Coco Gauff.
Gauff, who first came into the limelight with her major doubles final at the 2021 US Open, followed by a spectacular victory at the 2024 French Open, had once candidly confessed her inclination towards singles play. This revelation came on the heels of her French Open win and coincided with her dreams of securing an Olympic gold medal. Despite a successful doubles partnership with Jessica Pegula, which resulted in five titles and top rankings, Gauff’s intention to choose her tournaments more wisely and prioritize Grand Slams caught many by surprise. This changing landscape has led tennis experts to observe a decrease in top singles players’ involvement in doubles tournaments.
The 2025 Indian Wells tournament starkly showcased this shift in player preference. Gauff’s decision to steer clear of the doubles after her Round 16 singles exit was a notable instance. The men’s side reflected a similar trend, with only two Top 10 players, Alexander Zverev and Andrey Rublev, participating in doubles. The question arises – has the ‘tournament of the year’ lost its doubles charm?
American tennis stalwarts such as Sam Querrey, Jack Sock, John Isner, and Steve Johnson have been grappling with this question, trying to understand the reasons behind the perceived ‘awful’ state of the Indian Wells doubles draw. Johnson initiated the conversation with his fondness for the Indian Wells doubles, which was echoed by Isner and Sock. Querrey also joined the discussion, questioning the absence of top players.
According to Isner, the doubles draw was “brutal,” alluding to a steep drop in quality. Johnson suggested that the diminished prestige of the doubles might be a reason behind the snub. Querrey highlighted the stark drop in doubles participation from his era, where nine out of the Top 10 players competed in doubles, compared to only one in the present day. Isner concurred, attributing the decline to the abundant rest days in singles play and the lack of an apparent reason for top players to participate in doubles.
Johnson pointed out another possible cause related to scheduling. He emphasized that players often prefer to participate in doubles events before the singles to better acclimate to the surface and conditions. This could indicate that scheduling conflicts might be contributing to the dismay.
Querrey suggested that players might be opting for more entertaining events like the UTS or the Eisenhower doubles instead. Isner expressed disappointment for the fans, lamenting the absence of players like Alcaraz on the doubles court.
Despite the declining participation, there are still players who continue to excel in doubles events. Taylor Townsend and Katerina Siniakova, for instance, despite being knocked out of the Indian Wells event, have been consistently successful in doubles. After their triumph in Dubai, Townsend achieved the second spot in the women’s doubles ranking, while Siniakova marked 140 weeks at the number one spot.
However, the duo was defeated in the semifinals by Asia Muhammad (USA) and Demi Schuurs (Netherlands) at Indian Wells, leaving Muhammad as the sole American woman in the doubles event. On the men’s side, Sebastian Korda (USA) and Jordan Thompson (AUS) have reached the finals, where they’ll face top seeds Marcelo Arevalo (El Salvador) and Mate Pavic (Croatia). As the tournament progresses, it remains to be seen whether the American players can turn the tide in their favor in the doubles event at Indian Wells.