The women’s tournament is harder to predict, but still has some stronger favourites that stand out from the rest.
Previous winners
Bianca Andreescu
-Canada
-21 years old
-World number 20
-US Open winner (2019)
-One Indian Wells Victory, defeated Kerber (2019)
-First played in 2019
-On the player list
-Average form
-Could defend title, but there are stronger favourites
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USTA1270099_20210902_USO_Day4_AG018968-1024x683.jpg)
Naomi Osaka
-Japan
-23 years old
-World number 7
-Four time grand slam winner (2x AUS, 2x US)
-One Indian Wells Victory, defeated Kasatkina (2018)
-First played in 2016
-Withdrawn
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/NAOMI-OSAKA-MADRID-©atatennis-1024x772.jpg)
Elena Vesnina
-Russia
-35 years old
-Outside top 250
-Prolific doubles player with 4 grand slams in the womens and mixed doubles, one tour final, two fed cups, an olympic gold and olympic silver
-One Indian Wells Singles, defeated Kuznetsova (2017)
-First played in 2006
-On player list
-Unlikely to do well in the singles
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/elena-vesnina-1024x661.jpg)
Victoria Azarenka
-Belarus
-32 years old
-World number 34
-Two Australian Open victories (2012 and 2013)
-Two Indian Wells victories, defeated S. Williams (2016), defeated Sharapova (2013)
-First played in 2006
-On player list
-Mediocre form
-Could make a good run
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USTA1268176_20210901_USO_Day3_MDA06502-1024x683.jpg)
Simona Halep
-Romania
-30 years old
-World number 15
-Two Grand slam victories, French Open (2018), Wimbledon (2019)
-One Indian Wells Victory, defeated Jankovic (2015)
-First played in 2011
-Decent form
-Outsider
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USO-D7-SIMONA-HALEP-002-BRAD-PENNER-USTA-1024x683.jpg)
Vera Zvonereva
-Russia
-37 years old
-World number 93
-Two grand slam finals (Wim and US 2010)
-One Indian Wells Victory, defeated Ivanovic (2009)
-First played in 2003
-Not on player list
-Poor form
-Not likely to play or go very far if she does
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/CINCY-D4-VERA-ZVONEREVA-BEN-SOLOMON-WTA-002-1024x577.jpg)
Kim Clijsters
-Belgium
-38 years old
-Outside top 1000
-Four time grand slam winner (1x AUS, 3x US)
-Two Indian Wells victories, defeated Davenport (2003 and 2005)
-Three finals, lost to S. Williams (2001)
-First competed in 2000
-Not on player list
-Recently played her first tournament back since injury
-Outsider
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/ANNE-CLIJSTERS-JADA-US09-D14_004-766x1024.jpg)
Serena Williams
-USA
-40 years old
-World number 40
-23 time grand slam winner (7x AUS, 3x RG, 7x Wim, 6x US)
-Two Indian Wells victories, defeated Clijsters (2001), defeated Graf (1999)
-Three finals, lost to Azarenka (2016)
-First played in 1999
-Not on player list
-Still recovering from torn hamstring
-Won’t compete
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/SPT-SERENA-WILLIAMS-648-1024x835.jpg)
Former finalists
Angelique Kerber
-Germany
-33 years old
-World number 14
-Three time grand slam winner (1x AUS, 1x Wim, 1x US)
-One Indian Wells final, lost to Andreescu (2019)
-First played in 2008
-On player list
-Decent form
-Outsider
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/USO-D1-ANGELIQUE-KERBER-DARREN-CARROLL-©-USTA-1024x744.jpg)
Daria Kasatkina
-Russia
-24 years old
-World number 25
-Two time grand slam quarterfinalist
-One Indian Wells final, lost to Osaka (2018)
-First played in 2016
-On player list
-Average form
-Not a favourite
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USTA1268851_20210901_USO_Day3_AO2_7095-1024x683.jpg)
Svetlana Kuznetsova
-Russia
-36 years old
-World number 100
-Two time grand slam winner (RG 2009, US 2004)
-Three Indian Wells finals, lost to Vesnina (2017), lost to Ivanovic (2008), lost to Hantuchova (2007)
-First played in 2003
-Not on player list
-Poor form
-Not likely to play or go very far if she does
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/SVETLANA-KUZNETSOVA-2017-AP-1024x842.jpg)
Top 5 players
Ashleigh Barty
-Australia
-25 years old
-World number one
-Two time grand slam winner (RG 2019, Wim 2021)
-Best result at Indian Wells is a 4th round, lost to Svitolina (2019)
-First played in 2018
-Withdrawn
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USTA1266534_20210831_USO_Day2_BDC04958-1024x711.jpg)
Aryna Sabalenka
-Belarus
-23 years old
-World number two
-Two time grand slam semifinalist (Wim 2021, US 2021)
-Best result at Indian Wells is a 4th round, lost to Kerber (2019)
-First played in 2018
-Good form
-One of the favourites
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USOD11-LSF-ARYANA-SABALENKA-001-DARREN-CARROLL-1024x714.jpg)
Karolina Pliskova
-Czechia
-29 years old
-World number three
-Two time grand slam finalist (Wim 2021, US 2016)
-Best result at Indian Wells is two semifinals, lost to Azarenka (2016), lost to Kuznetsova (2017)
-First played in 2012
-Good form
-One of the favourites
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USTA1270411_20210902_USO_Day4_GE3_7214-1024x683.jpg)
Iga Swiatek
-Poland
-20 years old
-World number four
-Roland Garros winner (2020)
-Never made it out of Indian Wells qualifying
-First played in 2019
-Decent form
-Outside favourite
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/IGA-SWIATEK-TOKYO-©ITF-1024x823.jpg)
Barbora Krejcikova
-Czech Republic
-25 years old
-World number five
-Roland Garros winner (2021)
-Never made it out of Indian Wells qualifying
-First played in 2018
-Decent form
-Outsider
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USTA1275458_20210905_USO_Day7_ADC00051-1024x683.jpg)
US Open success stories
Emma Raducanu
-Great Britain
-18 years old
-World number 22
-US Open winner (2021)
-Never attended Indian Wells
-Strong form
-One of the favourites
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/EMMA-RADUCANU-TROPHY-006-PETE-STAPLES-USTA-1024x683.jpg)
Leylah Fernandez
-Canada
-19 years old
-World number 29
-US Open finalist (2021)
-Never attended Indian Wells
-Strong form
-One of the favourites
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USO21-LSF-LEYLAH-FERNANDEZ-GARRETT-ELLWOOD-1024x683.jpg)
Maria Sakkari
-Greece
-26 years old
-World number 10
-Two time Grand slam semifinalist (RG 2021, US 2021)
-Best Indian Wells result is a 4th round, lost to Osaka (2018)
-First played in 2016
-Good form
-Outsider
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/USTA1279207_20210908_USO_Day10_ADC05533-1024x683.jpg)
Belinda Bencic
-Switzerland
-24 years old
-World number 12
-Olympic champion (2021)
-Best Indian Wells result is a semifinal, lost to Kerber (2019)
-First played in 2014
-Decent form
Outsider Favourite
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/belinda-bencic-berlin-©WTA-TEnnis--1024x813.jpg)
Elina Svitolina
-Ukraine
-27 years old
-World number 6
-Two time grand slam semifinalist (Wim 2019, US 2019)
-Best Indian Wells result is a semifinal, lost to Andreescu (2019)
-First played in 2013
-Decent form
-Outsider Favourite – but in great form currently
![](https://sj8cdb.n3cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/ELINA-SVITOLINA-RHEA-NALL--1024x681.jpg)
- Photos courtesy: USTA, Tennis Australia, WTA, Roger Parker