Indian Wells preview: Women’s Singles

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

 

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-Withdrawn
 

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

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
 

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
 

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
 

 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

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

 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

 
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

 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
 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Leylah Fernandez 
-Canada 
-19 years old
-World number 29
-US Open finalist (2021)
-Never attended Indian Wells
-Strong form
-One of the favourites

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

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

 
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

• Photos courtesy: USTA, Tennis Australia, WTA, Roger Parker