This past Sunday, we watched in stitches as Ben Shelton celebrated his fourth career title in Dallas by giving his girlfriend, professional soccer star and Olympic gold medal hero Trinity Rodman, a sweaty hug that instantly went viral on social media. Rodman’s reaction to Shelton’s affection? “Ewwww!”

When it comes to “box office Ben”, there’s more where that came from. Shelton and the rest of a star-studded player field will bring their box electric offerings to Tennis Paradise in March, where a magical synergy characterizes the onsite experience. In the Coachella Valley, where the stars shine night and day, the laid-back vibes are powered by world-class tennis, California sunshine and star-filled desert nights. 

Fans come for the elite tennis, housed in a breathtaking venue that is backdropped by the serene San Jacinto mountain range, but they always stay for the extracurricular activities that keep the grounds buzzing from the moment the gates open to the final thunderous roars that mark the end of each pulsating night session. 

In 2024, when Hollywood stars Zendaya and Tom Holland attended the women’s singles final, Zendaya danced like a queen to Whitney Houston in her seat before meeting Iga Swiatek for a walk-and-talk after the Pole had claimed her second career Indian Wells title in decisive fashion. 

At a tournament known for leaving its fans starstruck, even Swiatek was seeing stars after her tete-a-tete with Zendaya. 

“For sure, meeting Zendaya was crazy, but on the other hand, she's a human like all of us,” Swiatek said with a smile. “She can practice with me any time if she wants to.”

The interaction between the two superstars was one of many that end up woven into the fabric of each edition of the BNP Paribas Open. 

Some iconic moments happen during the heat of battle. Who could forget 2023, during a high-tension quarterfinal against Rafael Nadal, when Aussie Nick Kyrgios snapped at a heckler in the front row, then famously pointed to actor and director Ben Stiller (a regular attendee who was sitting nearby) as he asked the fan, "Do I tell him how to act? No!" 

Stiller, a massive tennis fan and always a good sport, took it in stride, and later offered his "coaching" services to Kyrgios on social media. 

Over the years, Tennis Paradise has become a grazing ground for GOATS (Greatest of all-time) both on the court and off. Former champions Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Serena Williams and Rafael Nadal have graced the hard courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for decades, while Super Bowl MVP Patrick Mahomes and hockey icon Wayne Gretzky are among the regulars in the luxury suites and stands. 

Just last year, Timothée Chalamet (fresh off his Bob Dylan biopic buzz) and Kylie Jenner were spotted in Stadium 1 during a dramatic three-setter between Holger Rune and Ugo Humbert. A classic juxtaposition of starpower on the rise!

The scintillating action often happens spontaneously, like in 2023 when the iconic practice courts were home to a grinding session featuring basketball legends Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki alongside tournament director Tommy Haas. You never know what kind of magic is going to happen in Tennis Paradise–best to remain vigilant, and keep a pen for signing autographs handy. 

While getting lost in all the world-class tennis happening around Tennis Paradise, don’t forget to stay alert–you never know when you’re going to find yourself on line for a beverage with Will Ferrell or taking a seat next to boxing legend Mike Tyson. 

That’s the beauty of Tennis Paradise. It’s about the tennis, and so much more.