After a event filled with surprises and intrigue within the California desert, there are two gamers who stay in competition to win the elusive “Sunshine Double” this yr: Mirra Andreeva and Jack Draper.
Simply how everybody predicted, proper?
Regardless of the star-studded fields filled with skilled veterans on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, it was the 2 younger, on-the-rise gamers who stole the present — and the $1.2 million in prize cash — en path to claiming breakthrough titles on Sunday.
Wow! Mirra Andreeva and Jack Draper… Their future is correct now and tennis is trying higher than ever! Congratulations
@BNPPARIBASOPEN
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) March 17, 2025
Andreeva, 17, has been thought of one of many brightest rising stars on the WTA Tour since her auspicious debut in 2023, however she’s discovered one other gear this season and cemented herself as the most effective gamers of the current. After a fourth-round run on the Australian Open, Andreeva received the largest title of her profession on the 1000-level Dubai Open final month and surged into the highest 10. And her momentum even additional ramped up at Indian Wells, as she defeated three main champions throughout her run to the trophy. Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon victor, received simply three video games in opposition to her within the Spherical of 16.
But it surely was what she did within the semifinals — in opposition to five-time Slam champion Iga Swiatek — and within the remaining — in opposition to world No. 1 and three-time main titlist Aryna Sabalenka — that proved that Andreeva’s reign is formally upon us. In each matches, the Russian teenager wanted three units however dug deep and dominated within the decider in each.
Already the youngest to ever win an 1000-level trophy, Andreeva is now additionally the youngest to win consecutive titles at that stage (previously often called Tier 1) since Martina Hingis in 1997. Now using a 12-match win streak, she is the present tour chief in matches received this season at 19. Whereas Andreeva acknowledged she was forward of her personal schedule when it comes to what she needed to attain in an interview with ESPN at Indian Wells earlier within the event, she definitely wasn’t complaining about her accelerated timeline after the win on Sunday.
“Perhaps it is taking place quick, however I prefer it,” she instructed reporters. “There’s nothing unhealthy that I can say about it. If it is taking place quick, I take it, you realize. It is not unhealthy to win two tournaments in a row, so I am actually joyful about that.”
Having jumped to a career-high rating of No. 6, Andreeva will now look to change into the fifth girl in historical past to say the 2 stateside spring hard-court occasions again to again. And actually, who’s going to guess in opposition to her at this level?
As for Draper, the 23-year-old from England, Indian Wells marked probably the most vital title in his profession. He had by no means superior previous the quarterfinals at a Masters 1000-level beforehand, and surprised the sector with one spectacular win after one other.
Defeating teenage prodigy Joao Fonseca in his opener, Draper then went on to beat three Individuals (Jenson Brooksby, No. 3-seed Taylor Fritz and No. 11-seed Ben Shelton) in consecutive matches earlier than upsetting two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz within the semifinals. In Sunday’s title match, Draper made fast work of Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2, in simply over an hour.
“It means the world to me, actually, to have the ability to be a champion right here,” Draper mentioned after the match. “I did not give it some thought till clearly the final ball was finished. Earlier than the match, you realize, you are pondering of every kind of eventualities in your head, plenty of doubts, pondering that, you realize, you in all probability might lose.
“And simply what makes it even higher is that, you realize, simply getting by way of these doubts and with the ability to play the ultimate the way in which I did. I am actually joyful, actually pleased with my achievements this week.”
Draper, who dropped only one set all through his run, is now into the highest 10 for the primary time of his profession at No. 7. He’ll look to maintain his scorching streak getting into South Florida and change into the eighth man – and first since Roger Federer in 2017 — to seize each titles in the identical season.
This is what else we discovered from Indian Wells, and what all of it means for Miami, which will get underway on Tuesday at Onerous Rock Stadium with former main champions Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova and Sofia Kenin.
It has been a troublesome stretch for the 24-time main champion. After a difficult 2024 season, which noticed him declare Olympic gold however not win a tour-level title, the 37-year-old was trying to get again on observe in 2025. However that hasn’t been the case to this point.
Whereas he made it to the semifinals on the Australian Open in January, he needed to retire after the primary set because of a hamstring damage. He returned to competitors in Qatar a couple of month later, the place he misplaced in his opening-round match. There was then one other damage scare after a video of him hobbling into the airport went viral — which he later known as “awkward to see” as he had simply by chance struck himself within the ankle — and his standing for Indian Wells was unsure. Nevertheless, Djokovic arrived to California in good spirits and claiming to be in full well being. However his keep was a brief one — he misplaced to Botic van de Zandschulp, a fortunate loser, in his first match, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Djokovic later mentioned he had been unable to seek out his rhythm and struggled with the court docket situations, however did not appear to be in panic mode.
“I imply, clearly no excuses for a poor efficiency,” Djokovic mentioned. “Simply it does not really feel nice while you play this manner on the court docket, however congratulations to my opponent. , only a unhealthy day within the workplace, I suppose, for me.”
Djokovic now arrives in Miami because the No. 4 seed, and taking part in on the occasion for the primary time since 2019. He acquired a first-round bye, and is slated to tackle Hamad Medjedovic or Rinky Hijikata within the Spherical of 64. He might probably face up-and-coming American star Alex Michelsen within the following spherical, and Daniil Medvedev, the No. 7 seed and Indian Wells semifinalist, can also be in his quarter of the draw.
Djokovic is a six-time champion on the occasion, however it’s been 9 years since his final title there and it is laborious to assume his confidence is not at the least somewhat shaken in the mean time. Will Miami be the event that rediscovers his successful methods? Or will it’s one other level of concern in what’s shaping as much as be a season filled with them?
Ought to we be frightened about Iga Swiatek?
The brand new season has additionally been powerful for Swiatek to this point. Not less than, by her requirements.
The 23-year-old and present world No. 2 reached the semifinals on the Australian Open, in addition to in Qatar and in Indian Wells final week, however she has been unable to cover her frustration about not advancing additional. The 2024 BNP Paribas Open champion, and the winner of 5 titles (4 on the 1000 stage and one main) in the course of the first half of final season, Swiatek now hasn’t claimed a title for the reason that French Open, nor has she reached a remaining.
Throughout her semifinal loss to Andreeva at Indian Wells, Swiatek uncharacteristically hit the ball into the bottom after which within the route of a ball child. On Monday, she took to Instagram to specific remorse for the incident, saying she wasn’t pleased with the way in which she behaved, however was additionally stunned by the “harsh judgments.” She went on to try to put her frustration into context and clarify the toll her constructive doping check — and subsequent one-month suspension within the fall of 2024 — has taken on her, along with the criticism based mostly on the feelings she’s now displaying on court docket.
“That is not a wholesome normal — contemplating that simply six months in the past, I felt my profession was hanging by a thread, [I] spent three weeks crying day by day, and did not wish to step on the court docket,” Swiatek wrote. “In the present day, after every thing I have been by way of, I am nonetheless processing and coming to phrases with these experiences.”
Swiatek mentioned she realized in Dubai final month, throughout one other loss to Andreeva within the quarterfinals because the defending champion, that she would probably not have the ability to regain the highest rating anytime quickly and it “deeply upset” her.
Nevertheless, she finally thanked her followers and mentioned she would proceed to set formidable objectives for herself, even when she “often take[s] two steps ahead and one step again.” She concluded by saying she would attain her objectives at her personal tempo.
So, like Djokovic, Swiatek will now be trying to press the reset button in Miami. She received the title in 2022 — because the final participant to efficiently win the Sunshine Double — and has confirmed she’s nonetheless able to making deep runs at massive tournaments regardless of her inside struggles. Maybe being so candid and susceptible would be the unlikely catalyst for her first title of 2025.
It will not be simple although. Madison Keys, who defeated her within the semis in Melbourne, Karolina Muchova and her longtime foe Jelena Ostapenko are all in her quarter, and Andreeva could possibly be a possible semifinal opponent. It doesn’t matter what occurs although, Swiatek might be relieved for the season to show to clay in a number of quick weeks. And that might change every thing for her.
Will the veterans step up?
Between the rise of younger gamers like Andreeva and Draper, shock victors like Keys on the Australian Open, and the suspension and absence of males’s No. 1 (and 2024 Miami Open champion) Jannik Sinner, it has been a captivating season — and one which has change into very laborious to foretell. There have been simply two ladies to win a number of singles titles — Andreeva and Keys — in 2025, and Felix Auger-Aliassime is the one man to have finished so up to now.
Among the most skilled and top-ranked gamers, like Swiatek, have had flashes of brilliance this yr however merely have not been constant. Sabalenka received in Brisbane to open the yr however then misplaced within the remaining on the Australian Open, wherein she was making an attempt to safe a uncommon three-peat, and at Indian Wells. Alcaraz misplaced within the quarters on the Australian Open to Djokovic however received the trophy in Rotterdam in February earlier than falling in his personal three-peat bid within the semis on the BNP Paribas Open.
Alexander Zverev, the highest seed in Miami, fell to Sinner within the Australian Open remaining and has struggled since. He misplaced in his opener in Indian Wells to eventual quarterfinalist Tallon Griekspoor. Medvedev, the No. 7 seed in Miami, reached the semifinals at Indian Wells — however then was curiously crushed in straight units by Rune — after a season that began with a second-round upset on the Australian Open.
Others who’ve received on tour embody Belinda Bencic (Abu Dhabi), who returned simply months in the past from maternity go away, and a resurgent Denis Shapovalov (Dallas).
So sure, it has been a really surprising season to this point.
Miami might be an opportunity for the highest gamers to reclaim their high canine standing and win one of many largest titles on the laborious court docket earlier than shifting to the European clay season. Will the tennis hierarchy return to regular or will it proceed to be unpredictable? Let’s discover out.
Will the Individuals fare higher in Florida?
Whereas the U.S. gamers began robust at Indian Wells, finally Asia Muhammad was the one American to hoist a trophy. The 33-year-old claimed the doubles title alongside Demi Schuurs and is now at a career-high rating of No. 8.
Keys got here shut with a run to the semifinals however noticed her 16-match win streak come to an anti-climactic shut in opposition to Sabalenka, 6-0, 6-1. Shelton had the perfect end for the U.S. males with a quarterfinal look.
High-ranked Individuals Fritz and Coco Gauff have been each handed early exits within the Spherical of 16.
However the Individuals have had extra success in South Florida — the place a lot of them reside and prepare — than Southern California lately (save for Fritz’s Indian Wells title in 2022). And since they’re used to the new and humid local weather, they definitely have an edge over many others.
The third-seeded Gauff, who turned 21 final week, is from close by Delray Seaside and has brazenly spoken about her love for the situations. She has by no means superior previous the fourth spherical on the event however will undoubtedly be on the lookout for extra in entrance of an adoring crowd, packed together with her family and pals.
Along with Gauff and Keys, Florida native Danielle Collins, the No. 14 seed, is the reigning champion and he or she might be looking for to defend her title and maintain on to her precious rating factors. She reached the Spherical of 32 in Indian Wells.
Jessica Pegula, the No. 4 seed, reached the quarters in 2024 and since then has reached the US Open remaining, received the Canadian Open title and clinched the trophy in Austin only a few weeks in the past. Emma Navarro, the No. 8 seed, received a title on the Merida Open earlier this month and appears poised for a signature victory. Amanda Anisimova, the No. 17 seed, received her first 1000-level trophy at Qatar in February and is able to beating anybody when at her finest.
For the lads, Fritz, the 2024 US Open and ATP Finals runner-up, reached the quarterfinals in Miami in 2023 and might be making an attempt to get his season again on observe after a sub-optimal begin. Others who could possibly be among the many final standing embody No. 12 seed Tommy Paul, No. 13 seed Shelton, No. 16 seed Frances Tiafoe and No. 24 seed Sebastian Korda. John Isner was the final American man to win on the occasion, which he did in 2018. He additionally appeared within the remaining the next yr.