The best players on the ATP Tour are currently competing to win the 52nd edition of Indian Wells.
The tournament, held in California, was last won by Jack Draper, who defeated Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in the 2025 final.
Around 52 years ago, John Newcombe became the tournament’s first-ever champion, defeating legendary figure Arthur Ashe in the final.
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Newcombe, who began his career as an amateur in 1960, defeated a host of star players on his way to the landmark title.
John Newcombe’s run to the 1974 Indian Wells title
Newcombe, seeded first, began the event by beating Jeff Borowiak, before defeating Ion Tiriac, Harold Solomon and Brian Gottfried on his way to the semi-finals.
The Australian came through a nail-biting contest in the last four, beating American tennis legend Stan Smith 7-5, 6-7, 7-6.
In the final, Newcombe overcame the resilience of Arthur Ashe, beating the American 6-3, 7-6.
Newcombe, who won 26 Grand Slam titles during his career, did not reach the Indian Wells final again before his retirement in 1981.
Across his 21-year career, John Newcombe won a remarkable 26 Grand Slam titles.
Seven of these were singles titles: he won two titles each at the French Open and US Open, and three Wimbledon titles.
The Australian also won 17 major men’s doubles titles and two mixed doubles titles.
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Newcombe won his last Grand Slam title at the 1976 Australian Open. Paired with compatriot Tony Roche, Newcombe won the men’s doubles title after defeating Ross Case and Geoff Masters in the final.
Five years after his retirement in 1981, Newcombe was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
‘Grass is the best of all surfaces’
In a 1991 interview with Pro-Tennis Magazine, Newcombe expressed his love for grass-court tennis.
The Australian was most prolific on grass, winning nine of his 26 Grand Slam titles at Wimbledon.
“Grass is the best of all surfaces because it changes from day to day,” Newcombe said, as per the International Tennis Hall of Fame.
“The variations in bounces from day one of Wimbledon to the men’s final is extraordinary. To succeed on grass, players have to learn to outwit their opponents as well as handle the conditions.
“Winning Wimbledon three times was great, but I played in 10 finals there altogether – four singles and six doubles – and won nine of them. I am pretty proud of that.””
