The prestigious Indian Wells 2025 tournament has kicked off with both men’s and women’s qualifying rounds underway, adding to the excitement of tennis fans worldwide. The women’s qualifying round began on March 2, 2025, followed by the men’s qualifying rounds starting on March 3, featuring top players vying for spots in the main draw.
Pablo Carreño, representing Spain, is the only Spanish player competing in the men’s qualifying event. He kicks off his campaign against 22-year-old American Zachary Svajda, adding to the anticipation surrounding his performance. Carreño, who recently climbed the ATP rankings to become the 15th seed, aims to build momentum from his recent success, having won two ATP Challenger tournaments last month, which helped him rise from around 150th place to his current position.
The conditions look promising for Carreño, who expressed the importance of this tournament for his ranking aspirations. "I have to make decisions about whether to go to Indian Wells and Miami, or stay here playing some Challengers in Europe...," noted Carreño about his tournament strategy roughly one month ago.
His potential pathway is lined with hurdles. If Carreño wins against Svajda, he is likely to face French player Arthur Cazaux next, who made waves at the Australian Open. This part of the draw is competitive, with notable players, including Italian sensation Mattia Bellucci, who is the first seed, veteran Fabio Fognini, and Botic Van de Zandschulp, who previously knocked out top names like Carlos Alcaraz and Rafael Nadal.
This year, the tournament will see the absence of key players such as Jannik Sinner, who is missing due to sanctions, and Nicolás Jarry who is sidelined by injuries sustained at the Santiago Open. Meanwhile, Australian Thanasi Kokkinakis will be out indefinitely following surgery, and others like Yoshihito Nishioka and Reilly Opelka are optimistic about returning for the Miami Open.
Adding to the withdrawn players is Chinese prodigy Juncheng Shang, who had to pull out due to issues related to his foot injury sustained at the Australian Open. Shang had made headlines for his early season performance but has had difficulty since then, leading to the decision to rest and recover from his recent troubles.
Not to be overlooked, Novak Djokovic arrives at Indian Wells seeking his sixth title, which would secure him as the player with the most wins at this prestigious tournament—a record currently shared with Roger Federer. Djokovic, having faced disappointments recently, including his lack of titles for over 18 months, appears determined to reclaim his former glory. His experience and prowess on the court make him one of the favorites, along with defending champion Carlos Alcaraz.
Alcaraz's return is also highly anticipated, with fans eager to see if he can clinch another title after winning consecutively for the past two years. He, too, will be part of the discussions as he aims to fend off fierce competition throughout the tournament.
The excitement around Indian Wells stretches beyond just match play; it encapsulates the players' quest for ranking positions and their ambitions to secure their standings for future Grand Slams and ATP events. The qualifying matches hold significant weight, as 12 final players will secure their spots alongside the elite tennis professionals already qualified for the tournament.
Overall, the coming days promise to deliver thrilling matches and high-stakes competition at Indian Wells. Fans and players alike are gearing up for what seems to be another memorable event on the ATP tour. With every match, hopes rise for surprises and upsets, characteristic of this dynamic phase of professional tennis.