Some of the WTA’s biggest stars are set to return to action in Indian Wells after being absent for the majority of the Middle Eastern swing.
Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Świątek, the world’s two best players, both skipped the Dubai Tennis Championships; much to the dismay of the Dubai tournament director.
Both players are set to return in Indian Wells, and they will compete against the likes of Coco Gauff and Elena Rybakina, who won her second Grand Slam title at the Australian Open in January.
the new coach of Emma Raducanu, has chosen his favourite for the title.
Mark Petchey picks Jessica Pegula to win Indian Wells
Former US Open semi-finalist Coco Vandeweghe began the discussion on the Big T podcast, picking Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina as her favourite for the Indian Wells title.
I think that top half is so stacked with Sabalenka, Anisimova, Gauff, Paolini,” she said. “So I am going bottom half is going to come through, because that is going to be such a blood bath.
“So I am going to go Rybakina. She has won here before, I think she is always a tough opponent out there on the hard courts and I think after coming off of the Australian Open.
Mark Petchey, who recently re-joined Emma Raducanu’s coaching team on an informal basis, has chosen the American number two as his favourite in Indian Wells.
Petchey [pictured below] said: “I am really interested in the conditions. I am interested to see how the first couple of days here [play out] and how the conditions play in match.
“It’s one thing doing it in practice but with a different ball here I am very interested to see who this will suit.