Preview of the BNP Paribas Open from Indian Wells, California, USA from 7th to 17th March, 2019
The BNP Paribas Open ATP & WTA joint tournament is often called the ‘5th major’ and is one of the biggest tournaments of the year, running over 10 days and featuring the very best men & women players in the World
Owned and organised since 2009 by technology billionaire Larry Ellison, the tournament is portrayed as being a ‘Tennis Paradise’ and if you’ve ever seen the venue and experienced the event then there will be few people who would disagree.
The tournament itself has actually been played since 1974 when it was called the American Airlines Tennis Games. Now it is the most attended tournament in the world outside of the Grand Slams and runs for 10 days featuring an ATP 1000 tournament and a WTA tournament running consecutively.
The tournament has always attracted the greatest names in tennis over the past five decades including Andre Agassi, Boris Becker, Andy Roddick, Lleyton Hewitt, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. The 2019 entry list lives up to this billing with Roger Federer, Novak Dkokovic, Rafa Nadal and Juan Martin del Potro already entered into the men’s event.
Where is the tournament held?
The BNP Paribas Open ATP 1000 tournament is held every year at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden
What dates does the tournament run?
Thursday March 7th 2019 until Sunday March 17th 2019
What court surface is the tournament played on?
The surface is outdoor hard courts
How many players and how many seeds are in the tournament?
There are a total of 96 men and 128 women and there will be 32 seeded players in the Men’s and Women’s singles draws
What is the prize money and how many ranking points are available?
The mens tournament is an ATP 1000 which means that the winner receives 1,000 ATP World Ranking points, with the complete breakdown of points and prize money awarded as follows:
Winner: 1,000 pts and $1,354,010
Finalist: 600 pts and $686,000
SF: 360 pts & $354,000
Quarter Finals: 180 pts & $182,000
Round 16: 90 pts & $91,205
Round 32: 45 pts & $48,775
Round 64: 25 pts & $26,430
Round 96: 10 pts & $16,425
The women’s tournament is a WTA Premier Mandatory event which means that the winner receives 1000 WTA Ranking points, with the complete breakdown of points and prize money awarded as follows:
Winner: 1,000 pts & $1,354,010
Finalist: 600 pts & $686,000
SF: 360 pts & $354,000
Quarter Finals: 180 pts & $182,000
Round 16: 90 pts & $91,205
Round 32: 45 pts & $48,775
Round 64: 25 pts & $26,430
Round 128: 10 pts & $16,425
Who are the reigning Champions?
In the 2018 Men’s Singles, Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) defeated roger Federer (SUI) 6-4, 6-7, 7-6
In the 2018 Ladies Singles, Naomi Osaka (JPN) defeated Daria Kasatkina (RUS) 6-3, 6-2
Where can I buy tickets for the tournament?
You can buy tickets online by clicking here
How can I follow the tournament without going there?
To watch the live scores of every match in this tournament as they happen you can use the Tennishead exclusive Live Scores service here.
You can also follow this tournament on their official Twitter here
Alternatively you can watch the tennis live on television and full details of how to do this can be found here
Men’s singles and Ladies singles draw for 2019:
Past Champions – Men’s Singles
Prediction for 2019
this event always produces great champions and 2018 was no different seeing Juan Martin del Potro score probably his biggest victory since winning the US Open. The draw was missing both Rafa Nadal and Novak Djokovic whereas the 2019 entries already include those two huge players.
The conditions in California are always said to be much quicker and higher bouncing than a lot of other tournaments. This would tend to favour a player like Nadal with his huge spin and double handed backhand, and if fit he would definitely be one of the top favourites for this year’s tournament.
Djokovic has enjoyed huge success over the years at this event, like nearly every other tournament around the world, so no-one would ever write him off. His performances at the Australian Open this year were outstanding so if he can bring that form to Indian Wells he will be the favourite and our prediction for the winner.
Other players to watch out for with potential to cause an upset and reach the later stages are Stefanos Tsitsipas and Alexander Zverev. Both young players that love fast conditions and hard courts and with a point to prove in these massive tournaments.
Good luck to everyone!
Look ahead to 2019 with our guide to every tournament on the ATP Tour, the WTA Tour and the ITF Tour
If you can’t visit the tournaments you love then do the next best thing and read our guide on how to watch all the ATP Tour matches on television in 2019
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