BNP Paribas Open Named 2018 ATP Tour Masters 1000 and WTA Premier Mandatory Tournament of the Year

Indian Wells Honored for Fifth Consecutive Year

For the fifth consecutive year, the BNP Paribas Open – held each March at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden – has been voted the ATP Tour Masters 1000 Tournament of the Year and the WTA Premier Mandatory Tournament of the Year, as determined by player vote. The BNP Paribas Open, the largest WTA and ATP Tour combined two-week event in the world, has swept the top tournament honors on both the men’s and women’s Tours each year since 2014.

“We are honored and humbled that for the fifth straight year, our event has been recognized by both the men’s and women’s players as “Tournament of the Year,” Tournament Director Tommy Haas said. “Our entire staff works incredibly hard to deliver a world-class experience, and our goal will be to make the 2019 event even better this March.”

The 2018 BNP Paribas Open saw fan favorite Juan Martin Del Potro capture his long-awaited maiden Masters 1000 title, defeating five-time champion Roger Federer in an instant classic. On the women’s side,  break-out WTA star Naomi Osaka won her first-ever Tour level title, setting the stage for her first Grand Slam title at the US Open later in the season. The tournament also saw the return of veteran superstar Serena Williams, who returned to the Tour after a 14-month maternity leave layoff.

The BNP Paribas Open is known throughout the tennis community as “Tennis Paradise” – a reflection of the stunning natural beauty and backdrop of the desert landscape, highlighted by the world-class tennis players that participate in the renowned global event. The Indian Wells Tennis Garden is widely recognized as one of the premier venues in all of sports, and a must-see destination for fans, players, media and sponsors. The tournament boasts world-class dining options; top-notch player facilities and amenities; and 27 practice courts. The BNP Paribas Open remains the only tournament in the world to have Hawk-Eye on all match courts for both main draw and qualifying matches.

The Masters 1000 designation is the highest category on the ATP Tour, outside of the Tour Finals, and includes the tournaments in Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Cincinnati, Canada, Shanghai, and Paris, in addition to Indian Wells. The Premier Mandatory designation is the highest category on the WTA, outside of the Tour Finals, and also includes the tournaments in Miami, Madrid, and Beijing.