Biggest Tennis Stars Expected At BNP Paribas Open In Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, CA — Tennis greats Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams are among the contenders expected to compete in the BNP Paribas Open to be held March 9-22 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, it was announced Wednesday.

Cori "Coco" Gauff, the 15-year-old tennis phenom who is the youngest player ranked in the top 100 by the Women's Tennis Association, is expected to make her first appearance at the tournament.

As the defending champion of last year's BNP Paribas Open, Bianca Andreescu is also expected to compete. The 19-year-old Canadian pro bested Williams last September to win the 2019 U.S. Open, her first Grand Slam title, and making her the first Canadian, man or woman, to win a major singles tournament.

The 2019 BNP Paribas Open men's singles champion Dominic Thiem of Austria will be on hand to defend his title.

The current WTA World No. 1 Ashleigh Barty, who won the 2019 French Open to ascend to the world no. 1 ranking, will seek her first title in the desert.

The Spanish-born Nadal, the world's no. 1 in men's singles tennis as ranked by the Association of Tennis Professionals, won at Indian Wells in 2007, 2009 and 2013.

Spots in the tournament will also be filled by the winners of the Qualifying Tournament, slated for March 9-11.

The Indian Wells Tennis Garden, which is owned by Oracle co-founder Larry Ellison, is located at 78-200 Miles Ave.

Stadium 1, the largest court in the venue, holds 16,100 people, making it the second largest outdoor tennis stadium in the world.

For a full list of committed pros, visit www.bnpparibasopen.com/players/current.