Often dubbed the ‘fifth Grand Slam’ of the year, the Indian Wells Masters is one of the most prestigious events on the tennis calendar.
Played in California at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, the competition has the second-largest tennis stadium in the world after the Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York and has the highest average attendance of any tournament outside of the four majors.
The singles main draw includes 96 players with 32 seeded competitors receiving a bye through to the second round.
While a number of stars, including Ashleigh Barty and Naomi Osaka will not compete this year, the majority of the world’s best players will be in action.
Here are the favourites for this year’s event:
Emma Raducanu
Fresh off the back of her historic Grand Slam victory at the US Open, British number one Emma Raducanu has accepted a wildcard into the main draw.
The cut off for entry into Indian Wells came before her triumph at Flushing Meadows, but the wildcard means the teenager will no longer have to come through qualifying.
Raducanu is ranked 22nd in the world now and could still qualify for November’s season-ending WTA Tour Finals in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Though this will be just the fifth tour-level event of the Brit’s career, she enters the tournament as the world’s most in-form player and will no doubt be brimming with confidence.
The 18-year-old will attempt to navigate her way through the competition without a coach, however, after splitting with Andrew Richardson –– who guided her to glory in New York.
