Mar 18, 2025, 10:08 AM ET
After a match stuffed with surprises and intrigue within the California barren region, there are two gamers who stay in rivalry to win the elusive “Sunshine Double” this 12 months: Mirra Andreeva and Jack Draper.
Simply how everybody predicted, proper?
Regardless of the star-studded fields stuffed with skilled veterans on the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, it was once the 2 younger, on-the-rise gamers who stole the display — and the $1.2 million in prize cash — en path to claiming step forward titles on Sunday.
Wow! Mirra Andreeva and Jack Draper… Their long run is at this time and tennis is having a look higher than ever! Congratulations @BNPPARIBASOPEN
— Chris Evert (@ChrissieEvert) March 17, 2025
Andreeva, 17, has been thought to be some of the brightest rising stars at the WTA Excursion since her auspicious debut in 2023, however she’s discovered some other tools this season and cemented herself as some of the perfect gamers of the current. After a fourth-round run on the Australian Open, Andreeva received the largest identify 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 3 main champions all the way through her run to the trophy. Elena Rybakina, the 2022 Wimbledon victor, received simply 3 video games in opposition to her within the Spherical of 16.
Nevertheless it was once what she did within the semifinals — in opposition to five-time Slam champion Iga Swiatek — and within the ultimate — in opposition to global No. 1 and three-time main titlist Aryna Sabalenka — that proved that Andreeva’s reign is formally upon us. In each fits, the Russian teen wanted 3 units however dug deep and ruled within the decider in each.
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Already the youngest to ever win an 1000-level trophy, Andreeva is now additionally the youngest to win consecutive titles at that point (previously referred to as Tier 1) since Martina Hingis in 1997. Now driving a 12-match win streak, she is the present excursion chief in fits received this season at 19. Whilst Andreeva stated she was once forward of her personal time table when it comes to what she sought after to succeed in in an interview with ESPN at Indian Wells previous within the match, she without a doubt wasn’t complaining about her speeded up timeline after the win on Sunday.
“Perhaps it is taking place rapid, however I find it irresistible,” she informed journalists. “There may be not anything unhealthy that I will be able to say about it. If it is taking place rapid, I take it, . It isn’t unhealthy to win two tournaments in a row, so I am in reality satisfied about that.”
Having jumped to a career-high score of No. 6, Andreeva will now glance to turn into the 5th girl in historical past to say the 2 stateside spring hard-court occasions again to again. And truthfully, who is going to guess in opposition to her at this level?
Jack Draper disappointed two-time protecting champion Carlos Alcaraz within the semifinals at Indian Wells prior to defeating Holger Rune within the ultimate. Clive Brunskill/Getty Photographs
As for Draper, the 23-year-old from England, Indian Wells marked essentially the most vital identify in his profession. He had by no means complex previous the quarterfinals at a Masters 1000-level up to now, and shocked the sector with one spectacular win after some other.
Defeating teenage prodigy Joao Fonseca in his opener, Draper then went on to overcome 3 American citizens (Jenson Brooksby, No. 3-seed Taylor Fritz and No. 11-seed Ben Shelton) in consecutive fits prior to scary two-time protecting champion Carlos Alcaraz within the semifinals. In Sunday’s identify event, Draper made fast paintings of Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2, in simply over an hour.
“It manner the sector to me, truthfully, in an effort to be a champion right here,” Draper mentioned after the event. “I did not consider it till clearly the final ball was once executed. Sooner than the event, , you might be pondering of a wide variety of situations on your head, a large number of doubts, pondering that, , you almost certainly may lose.
“And simply what makes it even higher is that, , simply getting via the ones doubts and having the ability to play the general the way in which I did. I am in reality satisfied, in reality happy with my achievements this week.”
Draper, who dropped only one set all over his run, is now into the highest 10 for the primary time of his profession at No. 7. He’s going to glance to stay his sizzling streak getting in South Florida and turn into the 8th guy – and primary since Roger Federer in 2017 — to seize each titles in the similar season.
Here is what else we discovered from Indian Wells, and what all of it manner for Miami, which will get underway on Tuesday at Arduous Rock Stadium with former main champions Naomi Osaka, Petra Kvitova and Sofia Kenin.
It is been a difficult stretch for the 24-time main champion. After a difficult 2024 season, which noticed him declare Olympic gold however now not win a tour-level identify, the 37-year-old was once having a look to get again heading in the right direction in 2025. However that hasn’t been the case up to now.
Whilst he made it to the semifinals on the Australian Open in January, he needed to retire after the primary set because of a hamstring harm. He returned to pageant in Qatar a couple of month later, the place he misplaced in his opening-round event. There was once then some other harm scare after a video of him hobbling into the airport went viral — which he later known as “awkward to look” as he had simply by accident struck himself within the ankle — and his standing for Indian Wells was once unsure. Then again, Djokovic arrived to California in just right spirits and claiming to be in complete well being. However his keep was once a brief one — he misplaced to Botic van de Zandschulp, a fortunate loser, in his first event, 6-2, 3-6, 6-1. Djokovic later mentioned he have been not able to search out his rhythm and struggled with the courtroom stipulations, however did not appear to be in panic mode.
“I imply, clearly no excuses for a deficient efficiency,” Djokovic mentioned. “Simply it does not really feel nice while you play this manner at the courtroom, however congratulations to my opponent. You already know, only a unhealthy day within the administrative center, I assume, for me.”
Djokovic now arrives in Miami because the No. 4 seed, and taking part in on the tournament for the primary time since 2019. He gained a first-round bye, and is slated to tackle Hamad Medjedovic or Rinky Hijikata within the Spherical of 64. He may doubtlessly face up-and-coming American big name Alex Michelsen within the following around, and Daniil Medvedev, the No. 7 seed and Indian Wells semifinalist, may be in his quarter of the draw.
Djokovic is a six-time champion on the tournament, however it is been 9 years since his final identify there and it is challenging to suppose his self assurance is not no less than a bit shaken nowadays. Will Miami be the match that rediscovers his profitable techniques? Or will it’s some other level of outrage in what is shaping as much as be a season stuffed with them?
Must we be frightened about Iga Swiatek?
The brand new season has additionally been difficult for Swiatek up to now. No less than, by means of her requirements.
The 23-year-old and present global No. 2 reached the semifinals on the Australian Open, in addition to in Qatar and in Indian Wells final week, however she has been not able to cover her frustration about now not advancing additional. The 2024 BNP Paribas Open champion, and the winner of 5 titles (4 on the 1000 point and one main) all the way through the primary part of final season, Swiatek now hasn’t claimed a identify because the French Open, nor has she reached a last.
Throughout her semifinal loss to Andreeva at Indian Wells, Swiatek uncharacteristically hit the ball into the bottom after which within the course of a ball child. On Monday, she took to Instagram to say sorry for the incident, pronouncing she wasn’t happy with the way in which she behaved, however was once additionally shocked by means of the “harsh judgments.” She went on to check out and put her frustration into context and give an explanation for the toll her certain doping check — and next one-month suspension within the fall of 2024 — has taken on her, along with the grievance according to the feelings she’s now appearing on courtroom.
“That is not a wholesome same old — making an allowance for that simply six months in the past, I felt my profession was once putting by means of a thread, [I] spent 3 weeks crying day-to-day, and did not need to step at the courtroom,” Swiatek wrote. “Lately, after the whole lot I have been via, I am nonetheless processing and coming to phrases with the ones stories.”
Swiatek mentioned she discovered in Dubai final month, all the way through some other loss to Andreeva within the quarterfinals because the protecting champion, that she would most probably now not be capable of regain the highest score anytime quickly and it “deeply disappointed” her.
Then again, she in the end thanked her fanatics and mentioned she would proceed to set bold objectives for herself, even though she “now and again take[s] two steps ahead and one step again.” She concluded by means of pronouncing she would achieve her objectives at her personal tempo.
So, like Djokovic, Swiatek will now be having a look to press the reset button in Miami. She received the identify in 2022 — because the final participant to effectively win the Sunshine Double — and has confirmed she’s nonetheless able to making deep runs at large tournaments regardless of her inside struggles. Most likely being so candid and susceptible would be the not going catalyst for her first identify of 2025.
It may not be simple even though. 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 can be a possible semifinal opponent. It doesn’t matter what occurs even though, Swiatek might be relieved for the season to show to clay in a couple of quick weeks. And that might trade the whole lot for her.
Will the veterans step up?
Between the upward push of younger gamers like Andreeva and Draper, marvel victors like Keys on the Australian Open, and the suspension and lack of fellows’s No. 1 (and 2024 Miami Open champion) Jannik Sinner, it is been a captivating season — and one who has turn into very challenging to expect. There were simply two ladies to win more than one singles titles — Andreeva and Keys — in 2025, and Felix Auger-Aliassime is the one guy to have executed so to this point.
One of the vital maximum skilled and top-ranked gamers, like Swiatek, have had flashes of brilliance this 12 months however merely have not been constant. Sabalenka received in Brisbane to open the 12 months however then misplaced within the ultimate on the Australian Open, during which she was once seeking to safe a unprecedented 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 prior to falling in his personal three-peat bid within the semis on the BNP Paribas Open.
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Alexander Zverev, the highest seed in Miami, fell to Sinner within the Australian Open ultimate 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 once apparently overwhelmed in immediately units by means of Rune — after a season that began with a second-round disappointed on the Australian Open.
Others who’ve received on excursion come with Belinda Bencic (Abu Dhabi), who returned simply months in the past from maternity depart, and a resurgent Denis Shapovalov (Dallas).
So sure, it is been an excessively surprising season up to now.
Miami might be a possibility for the highest gamers to reclaim their peak canine standing and win some of the greatest titles at the challenging courtroom prior to moving to the Eu clay season. Will the tennis hierarchy go back to standard or will it proceed to be unpredictable? Let’s in finding out.
Will the American citizens fare higher in Florida?
Whilst the U.S. gamers began sturdy at Indian Wells, in the end Asia Muhammad was once the one American to hoist a trophy. The 33-year-old claimed the doubles identify along Demi Schuurs and is now at a career-high score 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 most efficient end for the U.S. males with a quarterfinal look.
Best-ranked American citizens Fritz and Coco Gauff have been each passed early exits within the Spherical of 16.
However the American citizens have had extra luck in South Florida — the place lots of them live and teach — than Southern California lately (save for Fritz’s Indian Wells identify in 2022). And since they’re used to the recent and humid local weather, they without a doubt have an edge over many others.
The third-seeded Gauff, who became 21 final week, is from within reach Delray Seashore and has brazenly spoken about her love for the stipulations. She hasn’t ever complex previous the fourth around on the match however will certainly be searching for extra in entrance of an adoring crowd, packed along with her personal friends and family.
Along with Gauff and Keys, Florida local Danielle Collins, the No. 14 seed, is the reigning champion and he or she might be looking for to shield her identify and grasp directly to her precious score issues. She reached the Spherical of 32 in Indian Wells.
Jessica Pegula, the No. 4 seed, reached the quarters in 2024 and because then has reached the United States Open ultimate, received the Canadian Open identify and clinched the trophy in Austin only a few weeks in the past. Emma Navarro, the No. 8 seed, received a identify on the Merida Open previous this month and turns out 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 any person when at her perfect.
For the boys, Fritz, the 2024 US Open and ATP Finals runner-up, reached the quarterfinals in Miami in 2023 and might be seeking to get his season again heading in the right direction after a sub-optimal get started. Others who may well be a number of the final status come with No. 12 seed Tommy Paul, No. 13 seed Shelton, No. 16 seed Frances Tiafoe and No. 24 seed Sebastian Korda. John Isner was once the final American guy to win on the tournament, which he did in 2018. He additionally seemed within the ultimate the next 12 months.
