By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Tuesday, March 3, 2025
This year’s BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells introduces a new court surface from Laykold. But how does it compare to the previous one?
The shift to a new provider has sparked intrigue among fans and players alike, with many questioning the rationale behind the switch and its impact on the tournament’s notoriously slow conditions, which have traditionally favored athletes like Iga Swiatek and Carlos Alcaraz.
Interestingly, players’ reactions indicate little awareness of any significant changes.
“They feel a bit quicker, which is a plus for me, right?” shared Aryna Sabalenka on Tuesday. “But honestly, it feels good so far. I’ll give you more feedback after my first match. Fingers crossed I still like it!”
“Is the court faster now? I’m not sure,” was the response from two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Representatives from Laykold have expressed confidence in their product, emphasizing that it will enhance the tournament experience. “Laykold promises a new dynamic, providing both ATP and WTA players with the ideal conditions to excel,” a statement issued by Laykold highlighted. “Our courts offer ten times greater consistency compared to industry norms. By fine-tuning court speed to within 0.5 points, we’ve set the stage for an exhilarating BNP Paribas Open in 2025.”
Elena Rybakina, the 2023 champion, shared her thoughts, stating, “Perhaps it’s not significantly faster, but I did notice the bounce feels a bit lower. The windy conditions over the past few days might have contributed to that. Overall, I think the courts are still quite nice.”
Brad Stine, coach of Tommy Paul, noted a strong similarity to last year’s setup. “I felt the court played nearly the same as before,” he remarked. “Yesterday during practice with Sascha on Stadium 1, the bounce was quite high.”
Some critics fear that Laykold is pushing towards uniformity in court surfaces worldwide, arguing that diverse playing speeds create a richer competitive environment. While this concern is valid, it may be misdirected, as evidence suggests Laykold has not altered the court speeds at Indian Wells.
Daniil Medvedev, who was vocal about court conditions in past tournaments, observed, “I do enjoy Indian Wells and the new courts, but honestly, they seem slower than previous years. After playing for a couple of days, they feel very, very slow. We’ll have to wait and see how they perform during the tournament. I didn’t notice a change; my racket slipped from my hand quite easily, and the roughness of the court seemed to slow it down even more.”
