For the first time in tournament history, practice sessions on Stadiums 1 and 2 were open to ticket holders on Sunday, injecting a healthy dose of star power into Day 1 of qualifying and giving fans the rare opportunity to get up close with names like Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka, Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Ben Shelton and more.

For the price of a $10 qualifying ticket, fans were handed the keys to the tennis kingdom — a chance to luxuriate in everything the sport, and Tennis Paradise, has to offer.

Sinner, Venus Williams Delight

Four-time major champion Sinner kicked off the festivities alongside Raphael Collignon, the pair engaging in a spirited practice set as a steady stream of fans poured into Stadium 1. Over on Stadium 2, Naomi Osaka and Magda Linette were the first to take the court, setting the tone for a day that felt anything but routine.

Ahead of her tenth appearance at Indian Wells, seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams captivated a large crowd on Practice Court 1. The iconic 45-year-old — set to become the oldest player ever to contest a match at the tournament — went through the paces with Olympic silver medalist Donna Vekic for a full hour, each rally drawing appreciative applause.

Relentless Energy

Bathed in the golden glow of a sunny Sunday afternoon, Emma Raducanu stretched on the players’ lawn before heading to Practice Court 1 at 3 p.m. Clusters of fans settled in to watch the former US Open champion put in the hard yards, recently re-hired coach Mark Petchey back by her side.

Out on Stadium 8, Frenchman Arthur Fils and Tomas Martin Etcheverry traded thunderous groundstrokes in the afternoon heat, red-lining from the baseline with the kind of effortless power only elite pros can summon. A privilege to watch.

The energy spiked mid-afternoon as Coco Gauff, Victoria Mboko, Iga Swiatek and Ben Shelton took over the stadium courts, grinding through high-intensity training sessions while qualifying matches unfolded across Stadiums 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Swiatek The Sprinter

One of the most compelling sights of the day came on the players’ lawn, where Swiatek prepared for her session with a series of wind sprints alongside strength and conditioning coach Maciej Ryszczuk. Resistance bands stretched from the six-time Grand Slam champion's waist to her feet — and she still ran like the wind. There was a brief scare when the Pole slipped during an intense footwork drill, but she dusted herself off with a smile and went straight back to work.

The two-time champion’s intensity never wavers.

And the players' lawn never disappoints. Madison Keys was all smiles as she managed reps in the covered weight room, and Donna Vekic celebrated like she'd won the World Cup after scoring a goal on the football pitch.

Another glorious day in Tennis Paradise...