2026 is just days away, meaning another action-packed year of magic in Tennis Paradise is around the corner. Before all eyes are back on Indian Wells for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open from March 1-15, take a look back at the Top Ten moments from the 2025 edition:

1. Andreeva Lives The Teenage Dream

Over the years, Indian Wells has been the site of breakthrough moments for many of tennis’ rising superstars. In 2025, 17-year-old Mirra Andreeva became the next phenom to hoist the title, dismantling some of the biggest names in the WTA along the way. On her way to the title match, Andreeva recorded a dominant Round of 16 victory over 2023 BNP Paribas Open champion Elena Rybakina, as well as a three-set victory over defending champion and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek. In the final, she faced the red-hot World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka, who had not dropped a single set on her way to the title. Once again the underdog, Andreeva delivered, recovering from a set deficit to win the match 2-6, 6-4, 6-3. With this marquee victory, Andreeva became the youngest winner in Tennis Paradise since Serena Williams won in 1999.

2. Draper Rises To Maiden Masters Moment

In the Men’s Singles Draw, another competitor reached new heights for a breakthrough of his own. Great Britain’s Jack Draper entered the tournament as the World No. 13, facing a stacked draw full of formidable opposition. Time after time, Draper rose to the occasion. He started with a statement victory over Brazilian teenager Joao Fonseca, silencing the crowd favorite in straight sets. He followed that up by defeating three Americans (Jenson Brooksby, World No. 3 Taylor Fritz and No. 11 Ben Shelton) in consecutive straight-sets showings. Once again, the odds were tilted against Draper when he was set to battle two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz in the semifinals, but the London native pulled off the upset in a back and forth Stadium 1 spectacular. One of his most dominant showings came in the title match, as he cruised past Denmark’s Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2. This victory launched Draper into the Top 10, kicking off a career-defining year for the British No. 1.

3. Stars Shine In Stadium 1

The sunshine and superstars at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden brought record audiences to witness the magic of Tennis Paradise. The stardom was not limited to the players on the court, however. Among the friendly faces around the grounds, tennis fans Timothee Chalamet and Kylie Jenner made sure to find a seat in Stadium 1 to catch a thrilling match between Rune and Ugo Humbert.

4. Early Upsets Shock Title Contenders

Every tournament comes with its share of shock results and upsets, and 2025 was no different. Stadium 1 saw two of the year’s biggest upsets, as Top 10 ranked talents toppled in the early going. In his first match, No. 1 seeded Alexander Zverev squared off against Tallon Griekspoor. Zverev got the upper hand in the first set, but his Dutch competitor continued to poke at the favorite. Griekspoor got the crowd behind him with a clutch second set tiebreak to stay alive, and he carried his momentum into the third set. Griekspoor had the stamina to outlast the German, winning a tiebreak once again in the deciding set to cap off a three-hour marathon match.

Griekspoor wasn’t the only Dutch player to deliver a crushing blow, as Botic van de Zandschulp shocked five-time Indian Wells Champion Novak Djokovic the following day. The Lucky Loser established the upper hand early, taking the first set 6-2, but Djokovic returned to his usual level with a 6-3 closeout of the second set. That effort seemed to take the gas out of the 24-time Grand Slam winner, however, as van de Zandschulp dominated the deciding set with a 6-1 punctuation in front of an awestruck Stadium 1.

5. Eisenhower Cup Lights Up The Night

In its usual fashion, the 2025 BNP Paribas Open kicked off with the Eisenhower Cup, the annual event that brought a star-studded lineup of mixed doubles pairings under the lights of Stadium 2. After the duos walked out to a packed house excitedly anticipating the tournament to come, the fast-paced Tiebreak Tens action fired away. 2023 BNP Paribas Open Champions Fritz and Rybakina teamed up and hoisted the title, knocking out the duos of Daniil Medvedev and Amanda Anisimova, and defending champions Shelton and Emma Navarro, before overpowering Tommy Paul and Madison Keys to claim the title.

6. Fils And Medvedev Duel In Three-Set Thriller

Of all 190 Main Draw matches to unfold throughout the 2025 BNP Paribas Open, few offered comparable drama to the 2 hour, 25 minute slugfest between 2021 US Open Champion Medvedev and French up-and-comer Arthur Fils. The Quarterfinal match featured long, tight rallies that drew gasps from the Stadium 1 crowd. Medvedev took the first set, but Fils bounced back with a resilient second set as he gestured to rally the crowd behind him. Neither player was ready to fold in the deciding set, as it took a tiebreaker to separate them. After going back and forth and exchanging match points, Medvedev hit a powerful shot straight at a net-bound Fils, who did not have the finesse to harness the ball that sailed behind the baseline. As Fils slammed his racquet to the ground, Medvedev emotionally vaulted into the air for one of his most passionate celebrations, celebrating the closure to one of the best matches in all of 2025.

7. Rising Stars Make Their Desert Debuts

For decades, Indian Wells has offered the tennis world a glimpse of the young talents who will make up the next generation of the sport. The 2025 tournament brought a remarkable group of players, both homegrown and international, under the Tennis Paradise spotlight. The California trio of Learner Tien, Nishesh Basavareddy and Iva Jovic stood out as they made Main Draw debuts in their home tournament. Entering as a Wildcard, Jovic notched a first round win over Julia Grabher, picking up her first 1000-level win and setting the stage for a breakout year on the WTA tour. The must-watch overseas player of the tournament was most certainly Fonseca, who brought a loyal Brazilian following with him as he picked up his first Indian Wells win over Jacob Fearnley. While their journeys just began in Tennis Paradise, these talents will soon become familiar faces and forces to be reckoned with.

8. Entertainment, Food and Family Fun Around The Grounds

While the world-class tennis unfolded across nine courts around the grounds. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden came to life off the court with a vibrant selection of food, beverage, shopping and entertainment. Whether you enjoyed dining in style at the Nobu Indian Wells located inside of Stadium 2, stayed after dark for a dazzling firework display, or stopped at the village stage for a laid back live music performance, the BNP Paribas Open offered a full lineup of family fun across all two weeks of tennis.

9. Odds-Defying Underdogs Become Fan Favorites

While many fans entered Tennis Paradise hoping to see their favorite household names, there were surely many who left newly inspired by the performances of players they hadn’t known before. One of such players was Sonay Kartal, the Lucky Loser who made some serious noise by reaching the Round of 16 in the Women’s Singles Draw. The British heavy hitter captivated the crowd with her powerful play, as she ousted three consecutive opponents in straight sets before coming up short to Sabalenka.

In the Men’s Singles draw, few players were as electrifying as Japan’s Yosuke Watanuki. The World No. 349 entered the Main Draw as a qualifier and began wreaking havoc with consecutive wins over Alexander Bublik and Tomas Machac. His signature moment came in his Third Round match against Frances Tiafoe under the lights of Stadium 1. Watanuki dazzled the crowd with his dynamic shotmaking, contagious charisma, and quick break for a sip of soda. While gradually charming the primetime audience, the Japanese longshot defeated Tiafoe in a surprising straight sets showcase.

10. The Best Fans In Tennis Bring The Buzz

The 2025 BNP Paribas Open was full of life like never before, as the Indian Wells Tennis Garden welcomed a record audience, surpassing 500,000 total patrons for the first time ever. Whether fans came for their first ever match or dressed like their longtime favorite player (or the bees, of course), the Indian Wells audience brought the best energy in the sport once again. The BNP Paribas Open looks forward to welcoming the tennis faithful and brand new fans from March 1-15, 2026, for another exciting edition in Tennis Paradise.