Tennis

Some of the best players in the world could face a tough road at Indian Wells following Monday night's draw.

The BNP Paribas Open in California is typically one of the most exciting non-Grand Slams on the ATP and WTA tours, and this year will be no different after the unveiling of the loaded fields on both the men's and women's sides.

Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 Main Draw Singles pic.twitter.com/O8qSpxYhqe

— Tennis Draws (@DrawsTennis) March 4, 2025

WTA Women’s singles full draw at Indian Wells: pic.twitter.com/qqb6Vlca3m

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 4, 2025

Of course, all eyes will be on 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, who drew the No. 6 seed this year. The draw didn't do the 37-year-old much favors, as he could potentially face Nick Kyrgios in the second round and meet Indian Wells two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals.

Kyrgios previously defeated Djokovic in the round of 16 at Indian Wells in 2017. The Serbian has three career losses against Alcaraz but has won their last two matchups and four of the last five.

Novak Djokovic is not only in Alcaraz’s half again but this time he is in his Quarter! Amazing coincidence—right!? pic.twitter.com/a3BnvoWQNe

— Thuso the GOAT 𓃵 (@djokernoler) March 4, 2025

The attraction Djokovic and Alcaraz have on every draw is quite crazy.

Same quarter at the AusOpen

Same half in Doha

Same quarter in Indian Wells even without Sinner in it pic.twitter.com/W2tTlz0aHW

— José Morgado (@josemorgado) March 4, 2025

With World No. 1 Jannik Sinner sitting out due to a three-month doping suspension, Alexander Zverev drew the No. 1 seed in the BNP Paribas Open. No. 5 seed Daniil Medvedev, who reached the final at Indian Wells in 2023, should also be considered a threat.

On the women's side, World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka drew the top seed over Indian Wells defending champion Iga Swiatek. Sabalenka is just 1-2 since losing the Australian Open final.

Coco Gauff, who drew the No. 3 seed, could face a tough path with potential matchups against fellow former US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the second round and No. 5 Madison Keys, who is coming off her first major victory at the 2025 Australian Open, in the quarterfinals.

Projected women's quarterfinalists (by seeding only)

(1) Sabalenka - (6) Paolini
(3) Gauff - (5) Keys
(7) Rybakina - (4) Pegula
(8) Zheng- (2) Swiatek#TennisParadise

— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 3, 2025

The first round of the BNP Paribas Open is set to begin on Wednesday, with qualifying play already underway at Indian Wells.

Despite receiving a wild-card entry to Indian Wells, Venus Williams will not participate in the tournament.

At "An Evening with Venus Williams" at Arena Næstved, Williams said a press release from the tournament about her wild-card entry "wasn't true."

"No, I'm not playing," she said (h/t ESPN's D'Arcy Maine). "Actually, I found the announcement super amusing because, I don't know, people seem to be happy, so I was like, 'Maybe I'll just go with it, I don't know.' I'm actually not going. I'm going to be overseas. I'm not going to be [there] ... I just had a player text me today too, like, 'Can you play doubles?' [But] I'm not playing."

Williams said she found out about the wild-card bid "when you guys did" and said she "would love to be there" but had prior commitments.

Last week, the tournament released a statement announcing the 44-year-old would participate in Indian Wells, which would have been her first WTA Tour-level match in nearly a year.

“Williams, a Southern California native, has competed on the WTA Tour for more than 30 years since her debut in 1994,” the tournament said in a statement on Wednesday. “Williams is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles and has won a combined 23 Grand Slams across all competitions, including seven in singles, while also winning four Olympic Gold Medals and the 2008 WTA Tour Championships. The 2025 BNP Paribas Open will mark Williams' tenth career appearance at Indian Wells.”

Williams was given a wild-card bid and competed at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in March last year, losing to Nao Hibino of Japan in three sets. She also received a wild card to the Miami Open later in March and lost to Diana Shnaider. She has not competed since.

Last year, Williams competed only in Indian Wells and the Miami Open. In 2023, she participated in seven tournaments and won three matches. Given her sparse appearances, it's unclear when she plans to compete professionally again.

For the first time in almost a year, Venus Williams will compete in a WTA Tour-level match.

Williams, 44, was granted a wild-card entry into the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells in California next month, per The Athletic's Matthew Futterman.

It will be Williams' 10th appearance at Indian Wells. She has reached the event's semifinal three times but has never won.

“Williams, a Southern California native, has competed on the WTA Tour for more than 30 years since her debut in 1994,” the tournament said in a statement on Wednesday. “Williams is a former World No. 1 in both singles and doubles and has won a combined 23 Grand Slams across all competitions, including seven in singles, while also winning four Olympic Gold Medals and the 2008 WTA Tour Championships. The 2025 BNP Paribas Open will mark Williams’ tenth career appearance at Indian Wells.”

Williams and her sister, Serena, did not compete at Indian Wells for 14 years following an incident at the event in 2001. The Williams sisters were set to compete against each other in the semifinals in 2001 when Venus had to withdraw because of a knee injury.

After withdrawing, Venus and her father, Richard, were met with boos from the crowd while watching Serena play in the finals.

Serena opened up about the incident in an interview with Will Smith for Red Table Talk in 2021.

"Even when I went back 14 years later, it was very traumatizing," she said (h/t ESPN's D'Arcy Maine). "Talk about post-traumatic stress and mental anxiety. I remember sitting in the bathroom thinking, 'Wait, I'm not gonna go back. I just don't think I should do this. What if they start booing again?' It was really hard for me."

Venus competed at Indian Wells last year after receiving a wild-card bid and lost to Nao Hibino of Japan in three sets. She also received a wild card to the Miami Open, where she lost in straight sets to Diana Shnaider. The Miami Open was Williams' last event.

A male spectator was ejected by security from Emma Raducanu's match against Karolina Muchova at the WTA 1,000 Dubai Tennis Championships on Tuesday for displaying "fixated behavior" toward Raducanu.

According to Colin Millar of The Athletic, Raducanu was "visibly upset" during the match and "approached the umpire in tears during the second game." A brief pause was taken in the match while the umpire spoke on a walkie-talkie, and Muchova also approached Raducanu during the delay.

The WTA released a statement saying that Raducanu was approached by the same male spectator earlier in the tournament, and he has now been banned from future WTA events.

"On Monday, February 17, Emma Raducanu was approached in a public area by a man who exhibited fixated behavior," the statement read. "This same individual was identified in the first few rows during Emma’s match on Tuesday at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships and subsequently ejected. He will be banned from all WTA events pending a threat assessment."

Per Millar, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), Britain’s tennis governing body, also released a statement saying, “This incident once again highlights issues around safety that all players, but female players in particular, can face. We have support available for British players and have been in contact with Emma and her team following the events in Dubai."

On Thursday, the man was detained by local police, per Reuters (h/t ESPN). Raducanu dropped charges against the man, who signed a "formal undertaking" to maintain distance from her in the future.

Raducanu had fallen behind 0-4 against Muchova following the incident, but she battled back to force a tiebreak in the first set. She ultimately lost the match 7-6(6), 6-4.

Unfortunately, this isn't the first time that Raducanu has been subjected to inappropriate behavior from a fan. In 2022, a man who showed up at Raducanu’s family home on three occasions was issued a five-year restraining order.

"Player safety is our top priority, and tournaments are advised on security best practices for international sporting events," the WTA added in its statement. "The WTA is actively working with Emma and her team to ensure her well-being and provide any necessary support. We remain committed to collaborating with tournaments and their security teams worldwide to maintain a safe environment for all players."

Team Agassi, composed of Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf and guest Mardy Fish, took home $1 million at Pickleball Slam 3 at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday.

Match 1: Agassi vs. Andy Roddick – Team Agassi won 2-0 

Match 2: Graf and Mardy Fish vs. Eugenie Bouchard and John Isner – Team Agassi won 2-0

Match 3: Agassi and Graf vs. Roddick and Bouchard – Team Roddick won 2-1

Tiebreaker Round: Team Agassi vs. Team Roddick – Team Agassi won 1-0

Great point. Agassi-Graf vs. Roddick-Bouchard Pickle Ball Slam 3 @MichelobULTRA Arena @MandalayBay … @reviewjournal pic.twitter.com/g2l4cBSatC

— John Katsilometes (@johnnykats) February 16, 2025

Agassi successfully extended his undefeated streak and became the reigning three-time champion after entering the event with a target on his back.

Teaming up with Graf once again, the duo faced a tough challenge as they attempted to defend their 2024 title against a familiar face—Roddick, Agassi’s former championship partner. Roddick joined forces with Bouchard, aiming to dethrone the defending champs.

Agassi and Roddick kicked off Sunday’s competition with a singles matchup, where Agassi secured a straight-set victory to earn Team Agassi its first point.

In Match 2, Graf was joined by special guest and 2004 Olympic silver medalist Fish, while Bouchard paired up with former world No. 8 singles player John Isner as the pairs aimed to secure the second point on the board.

Graf and Fish came out victorious in the second match, winning in straight sets, narrowly winning both games, 15-14.

The highly anticipated Main Event wrapped up the afternoon as the duo of Agassi and Graf faced off against Roddick and Bouchard.

Agassi and Graf took the first game with a 15-9 victory. To keep things exciting, Roddick and Bouchard bounced back to win game two, 15-10, sending the match into a third and decisive frame.

Tensions were high as the teams battled back and forth until Roddick and Bouchard pulled away, winning 11-10 and successfully earning two points for Team Roddick and sending the competition to a tiebreaker.

For the tiebreaker, the duo of Fish and Agassi faced Roddick and Isner, with players switching out every four points in a single game to 11 points.

Agassi, up 10-8, secured the victory with his 11th point, clinching the championship and allowing Team Agassi and Graf to remain the defending champions.

Veteran tennis player Nick Kyrgios questioned the World Anti-Doping Agency's decision to allow world No. 1 men's tennis player Jannik Sinner to settle on a three-month ban after testing positive for a banned anabolic steroid last year.

In a post on X, (h/t ESPN), Kyrgios took issue with the settlement, writing:

"So WADA come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously Sinner's team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a three-month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist."

By accepting a three-month suspension, Sinner will not miss any Grand Slam tournaments. He is eligible to return on May 4, and the next Grand Slam isn't until the French Open begins on March 25.

Per ESPN, the International Tennis Integrity Agency decided last year that it would not suspend Sinner after he said the trace amounts of clostebol he tested positive for were a result of receiving a massage from a trainer that used the substance to treat a cut on his own finger.

WADA challenged the ITIA's decision, but Sinner was still able to strike a deal that allowed him to avoid missing any major events.

The Professional Tennis Players Association released a statement on X after the decision was handed down in which it chided the inconsistency of anti-doping rulings in the sport:

PTPA statement regarding the Jannik Sinner case. pic.twitter.com/WVSbtljUxt

— Professional Tennis Players Association (@ptpaplayers) February 15, 2025

Sinner, 23, has been the No. 1 player since last June, and he has now won three Grand Slam titles since the start of last season.

The Italian star won the 2024 Australian Open and U.S. Open titles, and he added another Grand Slam title to his trophy case last month, defeating Alexander Zverev in straight sets in the 2025 Aussie Open final.

Based on the terms of his suspension, Sinner will have a chance to win Grand Slam No. 4 in May when he presumably enters the French Open at Roland Garros in Paris.

Jannik Sinner, the top-ranked men's player in the world, has accepted a three-month suspension as part of a settlement from his March 2024 doping violation.

In a statement released on Saturday (h/t ESPN.com), Sinner explained he accepted the suspension to end a case that had "been hanging over me" for nearly one full year:

"This case had been hanging over me now for nearly a year and the process still had a long time to run with a decision maybe only at the end of the year. I have always accepted that I am responsible for my team and realize WADA's strict rules are an important protection for the sport I love. On that basis I have accepted WADA's offer to resolve these proceedings on the basis of a three-month sanction."

It was revealed in August that Sinner tested positive for low levels of the anabolic steroid Clostebol in two separate drug tests conducted in March.

No suspension was issued at the time because the International Tennis Integrity Agency determined the drug entered Sinner's system unintentionally.

The explanation was Sinner's fitness trainer had purchased an over-the-counter product that was given to Sinner's physiotherapist, who used it to treat a cut on his finger. The physiotherapist then treated Sinner without gloves and "coupled with various skin lesions on Jannik's body caused the inadvertent contamination."

So wada come out and say it would be a 1-2 year ban. Obviously sinners team have done everything in their power to just go ahead and take a 3 month ban, no titles lost, no prize money lost. Guilty or not? Sad day for tennis. Fairness in tennis does not exist.

— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) February 15, 2025

Despite the ITIA's ruling, the World Anti Doping Agency filed an appeal in September on the grounds that the finding of "no fault or negligence" was not applied correctly under the rules.

WADA said in the appeal it was seeking a period of ineligibility of one to two years for Sinner, but it would not seek to vacate any results.

In the wake of Sinner accepting a three-month ban, WADA has formally withdrawn its appeal.

Sinner's suspension began on Feb. 9 and will run through May 4. The first tournament he will be eligible to play is the Italian Open starting on May 7. He will also be back in time for the French Open, which begins on May 25.

The only tournament Sinner has played in so far this season was the Australian Open. He marched through the field, dropping just two sets in seven matches en route to winning his second straight title at the event.

Tennis legend Serena Williams stole the spotlight when she made a surprise appearance dancing in hip-hop star Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl Halftime Show on Sunday.

Williams posted a behind-the-scenes video of her experience on Instagram with a caption explaining how it all came together.

"When @kendricklamar and team called and was like 'we’ve been trying to do something forever, what about this? We loved your crip walk at the Olympics after you won the gold medal,'" Williams wrote. "I’m like Super Bowl? Are you serious? When in the world would I ever be able to dance at a superbowl? (Never) let’s do it! I knew my winning dance after the @olympics would pay off one day. End of story."

From Compton to NOLA. @SerenaWilliams @KendrickLamar #AppleMusicHalftime pic.twitter.com/mnzuP7fJ1N

— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2025

Williams faced a wave of criticism for her celebratory dance on the court at Wimbledon following her win over Maria Sharapova at the 2012 Olympics. However, it turned out to be one of the most iconic moments of her legendary career.

Williams has relatively remained out of the spotlight in her retirement, but Sunday's performance created another lasting memory that her fans will surely appreciate for years to come.

Simona Halep, a two-time Grand Slam singles champion who was ranked world No. 1 in women's tennis singles for 64 combined weeks, announced her retirement Tuesday.

Halep revealed the news after she fell to Lucia Bronzetti 6-1, 6-1 in a first-round match at the Transylvania Open in Cluj-napoca, Romania, per Howard Fendrich of the Associated Press.

Halep won 24 career singles titles, with her first victory occurring at the Nuremberg Cup in Germany in June 2013. She won six times in 2013 during a breakout year that saw her end the season 11th in the WTA rankings.

Halep's rise continued in 2014 with her first-ever victory at a WTA 1000 final thanks to a straight-set win over Angelique Kerber at the Qatar Open. The 2014 season also marked her first Grand Slam tournament final, a hard-fought three-set loss to Maria Sharapova in the French Open. Halep went as high as No. 2 in the rankings during the year and finished at No. 3.

Halep won three times apiece on tour over 2015 and 2016, including at Indian Wells in the former year. She didn't find as much success in the majors, reaching the quarterfinals at the furthest.

However, Halep went back to a major finals in 2017, reaching one in the French Open. She was up by a set and a break over Jeļena Ostapenko but ultimately fell in three sets. Still, Halep had a good year, winning 45 matches and reaching five finals (winning one, versus the Madrid Open for the second straight season. During this year, Halep became the first Romanian woman to ever hold the No. 1 ranking, doing so in this stretch for 16 weeks.

The 2018 season saw her best-ever year at the majors, as she finally broke through in the French Open, taking down Sloane Stephens in three sets after dropping the first. Earlier in the year, Halep fell to Caroline Wozniacki in the Australian Open final, losing her No. 1 ranking to her in the process. Halep would regain it in a month's time, though, and hold onto it for 48 weeks. Elsewhere, Halep also won the Canadian Open for the second time.

Halep lost her No. 1 ranking after the 2019 Australian Open, which was won by new No. 1 Naomi Osaka. She fell to Serena Williams in the fourth round but got revenge at that year's Wimbledon, defeating the 23-time career Grand Slam singles winner 6-2, 6-2 for her second-ever major title.

Over the next few years, Halep enjoyed some highlights, including semifinal appearances at the 2020 Australian Open and 2022 Wimbledon, a 2020 Italian Open win and a third career Canadian Open win (2022).

However, Halep began a fight for her professional career after testing positive for Roxadustat, which is on the World Anti-Doping Agency's banned substances list, at the 2022 U.S. Open.

Fendrich provided more information.

"Halep initially was given a four-year ban that would have expired in 2026. But she appealed, and the Court of Arbitration for Sport reduced the penalty to nine months in March 2024.

"She argued that she was exposed to a contaminated supplement that caused her failed test. CAS determined that Halep bore 'some level of fault or negligence' for not exercising 'sufficient care' while using the supplement, but 'she bore no significant fault or negligence.' So that is why, CAS said, 'her anti-doping rule violations were not intentional.'"

Per Reuters, Halep "said she used Schinoussa supplements during the 2022 Flushing Meadows tournament and that the Keto MCT she took had been contaminated with Roxadustat, which was not disclosed on the label."

Halep only played a few times after her official return, losing once in March 2024 to Paula Bedosa at the Miami Open and again in October at the Hong Kong Tennis Open to Yuan Yue.

Knee and shoulder pain that occurred during an Abu Dhabi exhibition event forced her to withdraw from the 2025 Australian Open.

And now she has officially retired. Halep was a tremendous player, and like many greats, her time in the sport has been cut short due to physical issues. Still, her impact on the game will never go unnoticed, especially in her home country of Romania, where she'll forever be a legend for her efforts.

Major schedule changes are coming to the U.S. Open this year.

According to The Athletic's James Hansen, the tournament will start on Sunday this year rather than Monday. Thus, Wimbledon will now be the only Grand Slam tournament with a Monday start.

Furthermore, the tournament will transition to a 15-day main draw, with matches in the singles main draw starting on Sunday, Aug. 24 and concluding on Sept. 7. The first round will last three days, from Sunday to Tuesday. It will be the first time the tournament has started on a weekend in the Open Era, per Hansen.

According to Hansen, adding an extra day to the tournament is estimated to give 70,000 more fans a chance to attend.

The change comes after last year's U.S. Open featured the latest start time to a match in tournament history when Aryna Sabalenka and Ekaterina Alexandrova's third-round match began shortly after midnight. Zheng Qinwen and Donna Vekic's fourth-round meeting ended at 2:15 a.m., which was the latest finish to a women's match in U.S. Open history.

According to Hansen, the tournament began using a Late Finishing Match Policy "designed to mitigate the impact of late-night tennis on players," but the tournament did not use the policy for either of the matches.

The shift to a 15-day format also follows the Australian Open, which introduced a 15-day main draw last year to prevent late-night matches.