Indian Wells is gearing up for the return of elite tennis. The BNP Paribas Open is set to take place between March 9th and 20th, 2022. This year marks the 48th edition of the men's Masters 1000 and the 33rd for the WTA 1000. Following a cancellation in 2020 due to COVID-19, the tournament continues its legacy. The last time the event was held, it saw career-high achievements for Cameron Norrie and Paula Badosa, who both walked away with the titles.
In an unexpected turn of events, both Australian Open finalists—Ash Barty and Danielle Collins—will not be competing in Indian Wells. While Collins is missing the tournament due to an injury, Barty has also decided to skip the Miami Open, where she previously held the title.
On Thursday, world number one Ashleigh Barty announced her withdrawal from both the Indian Wells and Miami Opens. She shared that her body hasn't bounced back from the Australian Open as she had hoped. The three-time major winner confessed that she hasn't been able to train sufficiently and doesn't feel she is playing at a high enough level to be competitive in these tournaments, leading to her decision to step aside.
While Barty expressed her love for these specific tournaments, she emphasized that her current priority is regaining her peak fitness and health. Her primary goal is to be fully recovered in time to lead Australia in the Billie Jean King Cup. She is scheduled to compete in the qualifying rounds starting April 15th, where Australia will face Slovakia in a home tie.
The vacancy left by these two top players has opened the door for Anna Bondar and Oceane Dodin to enter the main draw. Additionally, the organizers confirmed that former champion Naomi Osaka (2018) and Sofia Kenin (2020 Australian Open winner) have been granted wild cards to compete in the women's event.
On the men's side, the spotlight is firmly on Rafael Nadal. Coming off a dominant 15-match winning streak after his Australian Open victory, the Spaniard arrives with immense momentum. Having last won this title in 2013, Nadal is aiming to end a nine-year drought at Indian Wells. The 21-time Major winner looks to extend his streak, especially with Novak Djokovic unable to attend due to vaccination requirements.