BNP Paribas Open 2025: Star-Studded Matches Kick Off in Indian Wells

PALM SPRINGS, California — The BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells has returned, featuring some of the biggest names in tennis, including Emma Raducanu, Jack Draper, Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, and Iga Swiatek. This marks the first combined WTA and ATP 1000 event of 2025, with matches broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis.

The tournament kicked off its qualifying rounds on March 2, with main draw matches commencing on March 5. The finals for both men’s and women’s singles are scheduled for Sunday, March 16.

Emma Raducanu is set to face Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima around 9 p.m. on Thursday, marking her first match since a brief hiatus. If successful, she will advance to play world No. 3 Coco Gauff in the second round of the tournament. Raducanu will play following fellow Brit Jacob Fearnley, who will be competing against Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca at 7 p.m.

Alongside Raducanu and Fearnley, Sonay Kartal will also compete on Thursday. Despite losing in the final qualifying round, she made the main draw as a lucky loser due to Sloane Stephens’ withdrawal and will face Varvara Lepchenko around 11 p.m.

Jack Draper, who receives a first-round bye, is another Brit to watch in the men’s draw. Cameron Norrie, a previous champion at Indian Wells in 2021, also contributed to British interest by defeating his Italian opponent with a score of 6-3, 6-0.

All matches will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis, with day sessions beginning at 7 p.m. UK time (11 a.m. local time) and night sessions starting at 2 a.m. the following day (6 p.m. local time).

Novak Djokovic is competing for his 100th singles title at this ATP 1000-level tournament after a recent struggle with a hamstring injury. Despite a rocky start to his season, Djokovic expressed optimism about returning to competitive form, stating, “I played without pain” during recent practices. Djokovic could face Nick Kyrgios in the second round if Kyrgios wins his opener, with Alcaraz potentially waiting in the quarter-finals.

Carlos Alcaraz, the two-time reigning champion of the Indian Wells, is looking to capitalize on Djokovic’s challenges, while Alexander Zverev stands as the top seed in the men’s draw.

The women’s side features Iga Swiatek as the defending champion, though she faces tough competition from players like Aryna Sabalenka, who seeks to regain form after a lackluster start to the 2025 season. Other contenders include Coco Gauff, who is brightening her season after winning the recent Australian Open.

Fans can look forward to a total of 32 singles matches and 7 doubles matches scheduled for Thursday, with home favorites like Learner Tien making his debut at this prestigious tournament.

Billed as the ‘Sunshine Double,’ Indian Wells and Miami are crucial for players, according to former British No. 1 Laura Robson. “It’s tough for any player to pull off because conditions differ dramatically,” Robson explained.

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is a world-class facility featuring 29 hard courts, overseen by Oracle co-founder and CEO Larry Ellison since 2009. With a capacity of 16,100, it is the second-largest tennis-specific stadium globally.