Written by Richard Pagliaro | @TennisNow | February 5, 2025
Photo by: Matthew Calvis
Carlos Alcaraz is on the hunt for a historic third consecutive title at Indian Wells next month.
Meanwhile, five-time BNP Paribas Open champ Novak Djokovic aims to dethrone the young Spaniard from his desert dominion.
Click here for more: Sinner and Cahill Part Ways After 2025
Today, the BNP Paribas Open unveiled its 2025 entry list, showcasing Djokovic among the champions, despite facing a hamstring injury that cut short his run at last month’s Australian Open semifinals.
Defending champion Alcaraz enters the competition buoyed by a remarkable 12-match winning streak at Indian Wells, aspiring to become the first man since Djokovic in 2016 to secure a three-peat.
On the women’s side, reigning champ Iga Swiatek is also chasing history.
The two-time titleholder seeks to make her mark as the first woman to claim three singles championships at Indian Wells.
The much-anticipated 2025 BNP Paribas Open is set to take place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden from March 2 to March 16.
Three-time Grand Slam champions and current world No. 1 players Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner will lead their respective draws, both eager to clinch their inaugural titles in Palm Springs.
After reaching the finals in 2023, Sabalenka is on the lookout for her first title of the 2025 season, following a thrilling defeat to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final. Together, Sabalenka and Taylor Fritz lifted the Eisenhower Cup mixed doubles title held prior to last year’s main draw at Indian Wells.
Sinner, fresh from defending his Australian Open title last month, aims to break through after two consecutive semifinal losses at Indian Wells against Alcaraz.
In total, Alcaraz boasts a compelling 16-2 record in “Tennis Paradise,” overcoming formidable opponents like Alexander Zverev, a surprising occurrence involving bees, Sinner, and Daniil Medvedev en route to the 2024 championship.
American tennis icons Coco Gauff and former Indian Wells champion Taylor Fritz spearhead a strong American contingent. The 2025 Australian Open finalist Alexander Zverev, three-time Grand Slam finalist Casper Ruud, two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini, and 2023 BNP Paribas Open champion Elena Rybakina will also be in competition.
The lineup of Top 10 players includes the 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys, 2024 US Open finalist Jessica Pegula, and 2024 US Open semifinalist Emma Navarro, all seeking to end the American women’s title drought in the desert.
Since Serena Williams claimed victory in 2001, no American woman has lifted the BNP Paribas Open singles trophy. Hall of Famer Lindsay Davenport was the runner-up three consecutive years from 2003 to 2005, and Serena faced off against Victoria Azarenka in the 2016 final. Notably, 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu remains the last North American woman to conquer Indian Wells.
Other prominent American women vying for the crown include World No. 12 Danielle Collins, former NCAA National Champion Peyton Stearns, and Amanda Anisimova.
On the men’s front, newly minted Top 10 player Tommy Paul (World No. 9) is eager to build on his outstanding semifinal run at Indian Wells last year.
Former US Open semifinalist Ben Shelton returns for his third outing in the desert, fresh from an impressive semifinal performance at the Australian Open, alongside Frances Tiafoe and Sebastian Korda, who round out the contingent of Top 25-ranked American ATP players heading to Tennis Paradise.
This year’s competition will also feature former Top 50 American players Reilly Opelka and Jenson Brooksby, making their return to Indian Wells after lengthy absences since the 2022 BNP Paribas Open. Highlighting the event is 2025 Australian Open semifinalist and World No. 10 Paula Badosa, leading a strong group of past BNP Paribas Open champions eager to reclaim their titles at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
The 2021 champion Badosa will share the spotlight with other former Indian Wells winners, including Naomi Osaka (2018), Victoria Azarenka (2012, 2016), and Cameron Norrie (2021).
