Indian Wells kicks off the Sunshine Double
The tournament had a two-and-a-half-year hiatus as the increasing scope of the coronavirus in 2020 made it the tennis calendar’s first casualty, and it’s return last year was delayed until the autumn of last year.
It is the largest two-week combined event outside of the four Grand Slams and the most-attended WTA 1000 and ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament in the world and to many, it has earned its unofficial nickname of the fifth slam.
| DATE | TOURNAMENT | LOCATION |
| 9 March | WTA 1000 Indian Wells | California, USA |
| 10 March | ATP 1000 Indian Wells | Florida, USA |
WTA Indian Wells
Ashleigh Barty was the highest ranked withdrawal from the field, taking time to recover after her Australian Open triumph.
It is worth noting that due to her decisions to withdraw from most of the tour last year, former champion Naomi Osaka made it into the main draw with Camila Giorgi’s withdrawal.
Names to watch will be defending champion Paula Badosa – her breakthrough last year has put her firmly in the Top Ten, and she capably backed that up with the Sydney title at the start of the year, and a run to the fourth round of the Australian Open. The wheels came off a little though in the Middle-Eastern swing, so she could be one to watch to at least make the quarter-finals.
The qualifying rounds start on Monday for the WTA with the first round starting on Wednesday.
Women’s semi-finals will be on Friday 18 March with the final on Sunday.
ATP Indian Wells
After the entire Australian Open debacle surrounding Novak Djokovic, his return to the tour has been short, with just the quarter-final appearance in Dubai, and because of vaccination requirements he will not be permitted to compete in this spring-swing.
With the world number one Daniil Medvedev in the hot seat, albeit stateless, as are other players from Russia or Belarus, he will be favourite, but Rafael Nadal has yet to lose a match this season – and on hard courts no less!
On the men’s side, Britain’s Cameron Norrie will attempt to defend his title and arrives with the Delray Beach title and the Acapulco final under his belt.
The ATP qualifying rounds start on Tuesday 8 March, with the first round starting on Thursday 10 March. The semi-finals are on 19 March, with both finals taking place on Sunday.
For the latest odds, check out bet365’s coupons for this week’s tournaments
