The BNP Paribas Open, also known as the Indian Wells Masters, will be held from March 4 to March 18, 2024. Indian Wells is also the first ATP Masters 1000 Series event of the year and will be the third WTA 1000 Series event for the queens of tennis.
The prominent tournament is played at the outdoor hardcourts of the illustrious Indian Tennis Garden under the embracing sunshine in Southern California.
Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina are set to defend their titles after winning the 2023 edition of the tournament, where Alcaraz thumped Medvedev 6-3, 6-2, while Rybakina bested Sabalenka 7-6 (13-11), 6-4, to win the women’s singles title.
Djokovic returns to Indian Wells after a five-year hiatus
Novak Djokovic, the ATP World No. 1 is set to compete at the BNP Paribas Open.
The 2020 edition of the Paribas Open was cancelled due to the global pandemic, forcing the Serb to miss the next three editions of the tournament. But this year, Djokovic returns to Indian Wells for the first time since 2019. The long hiatus from the tournament was due to the Serbian’s vaccination decisions, which prevented him from travelling to California in line with the COVID-19 restrictions of the United States.
“It has been five years, way too long to not be part of the Tennis Paradise tournament, one of the best tournaments in the world without a doubt,” Djokovic stated in a video talking about the prestigious tournament.
“The first time I won the title in Indian Wells, it was one of the greatest titles of my career at that point. I remember I played Mardy Fish in the finals,” he added.
Djokovic is already getting himself comfortable basking in the California sunshine, as he was spotted in Los Angeles watching a Major League Soccer tie where Lionel Messi and the rest of Inter Milan go against LA Galaxy.
The Serb is seeking an unprecedented sixth title at the Masters 1000 event. So SBOTOP tennis fans could expect strong BNPParibas Open 2024 results from the world No. 1.
Nadal makes his return to the court
After missing most of the 2023 season and withdrawing from the Australian Open in January, the living legend, Rafael Nadal, is set to make his return at the BNP Paribas Open.
“Obviously [the setback in Brisbane was difficult], because his first games indicated that he was, more or less, playing well, and then he had this little discomfort,” said Toni Nadal, Rafa’s coach and uncle.
Due to his long absence from the sport, the BNP Paribas Open 2024 betting odds might not have Nadal as one of the heavy favourites to win the tournament, but with a good draw, Nadal could very well be back in the upper echelon in no time.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion will look to garner his fourth Indian Wells title after winning the tournament in 2007, 2009, and 2013. He missed the 2023 edition due to injury, but with a rejuvenated outlook after missing the Australian Open two months ago, Nadal could make some noise in Tennis Paradise in the next couple of days.
Alcaraz to defend his Indian Wells title
Last year, it was the Spanish prodigy, Carlos Alcaraz, who claimed the prestigious title in Tennis Paradise, defeating Daniil Medvedev with a commanding 6-3, 6-2 win. He became the youngest man to win both Indian Wells and Miami, and he’s the second teenager to win at least three ATP 1000 tournaments.
Alcaraz, the World No. 2, is currently in a slump, failing to claim a trophy since his Cinderella run at the Wimbledon Championships last year, where he shattered Djokovic’s 34-match win streak.
Now, the whole tennis world is eager to see if the brightest young star in the sport can pull off another dream run despite suffering an ankle injury during his opening match in Rio just a few weeks ago.
But to the joy of his fans, Alcaraz went to social media, stating, “Just had an MRI on my ankle after yesterday’s injury, and I have a grade II lateral sprain that will keep me sidelined for a few days… See you in Las Vegas and Indian Wells!”
Fans and pundits alike have no choice but to wait and see how the 20-year-old and his fresh-from-injury ankle will hold up on the hardcourts of the BNP Paribas Open against some of the best tennis players in the world.
WTA wildcards
Iga Swiatek, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff boast the top seeds coming into the BNP Paribas Open, but the glory is still with Elena Rybakina as the defending Indian Wells Masters champion.
World No. 1 Swiatek bagged the season-opening WTA 1000 event in Qatar last month, where she beat reigning Paribas champion Rybakina to win her 18th women’s singles career title.
Meanwhile, former US Open champion Emma Raducanu was handed a main draw wild card after recently returning from an eight-month absence due to injury. Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Karolina Plizkova, and 2021 champion Paula Badosa were also given wild cards.
It’s going to be a stacked tournament, to say the least.
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