- What: BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells
- Where: Indian Wells, California
- When: March 7th to March 17th
One of the prettiest venues on the WTA Tour will host the BNP Paribas Open over the next 10 days in Indian Wells, California, just down the road from Palm Springs. This is an event for the ATP Tour as well, but we'll be focusing on the women's side of the draw. World No. 1 Iga Swiatek from Poland is the favorite to win (+275) after reaching the semifinals last year, but Aryna Sabalenka isn't far behind her at +330. Reigning winner Elena Rybakina is at +550, while American Coco Gauff sits at +650 to win this event on home soil. Continue reading for the Indian Wells picks.
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Indian Wells WTA Odds
| Player |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iga Swiatek | +275 | +275 | +275 |
| Aryna Sabalenka | +330 | +325 | +325 |
| Elena Rybakina | +550 | +550 | +550 |
| Coco Gauff | +650 | +650 | +650 |
| Jessica Pegula | +2500 | +2500 | +2500 |
| Jelena Ostapenko | +2800 | +2800 | +2800 |
Rybakina won in 2023, beating Sabalenka in the showpiece at Indian Wells. Swiatek was the champ in 2022 and will be looking for her second title here.
Iga Swiatek (+275)
Swiatek is back as the top-ranked player on the WTA Tour after Sabalenka briefly held that title. The Pole wasn't great in the first Major of the year, losing in the third round to an unranked player. But, she bounced back in Doha, winning the title where she beat Rybakina in the final in two tough sets, the same player who defeated Swiatek at the 2023 edition of Indian Wells. After the victory in Qatar, Swiatek did lose in the semis in Dubai only a week later but should definitely be considered a contender in California with the slower courts. It's a place she's enjoyed success too, which can't be taken for granted.
Aryna Sabalenka (+330)
Okay, Sabalenka started the 2024 season in fine fashion, winning her second career Major at the Australian Open, taking out Qinwen Zheng in the final. But, since then, the Belarusian has barely played. She skipped Doha and returned for Dubai where the hard-hitter was eliminated in the first round by Croatian Donna Vekic in three sets. While that doesn't necessarily mean Sabalenka won't show up and perform at Indian Wells, she isn't exactly playing a lot lately. That's not a great sign heading into the biggest WTA tournament of the season so far.
Elena Rybakina (+550)
Rybakina has enjoyed an impressive last couple of years, solidifying herself as one of the better players on the Tour. The Kazakhstan native did go out early at the Australian Open but other than that, Rybakina has been playing well, already winning a pair of titles and reaching another final in Doha, losing to Swiatek. Based on where Rybakina landed in the draw, she should be in the quarterfinals at the very least. There isn't any player ranked above No. 12 in her way. Rybakina has a great opportunity to repeat as the champion in the Indian Wells picks.
Coco Gauff (+650)
We can't ignore arguably the best American on the WTA Tour, right? Gauff had a fantastic 2023 season, winning titles in Cincinnati and then her first Grand Slam at the US Open, defeating Sabalenka at Flushing Meadows. When it comes to the 24' campaign, Gauff has one title already, finishing first at the ASB Classic before the Aussie Open, where Gauff progressed to the semis before Sabalenka got revenge. Regardless, the 19-year-old thrives on hard court surfaces and this event could be the perfect time for her to find some more consistency.
Jessica Pegula (+2500)
Jessica Pegula is the other well-known American player on the Tour. She hasn't had the best start to 2024 though, going out in the second round at Melbourne. However, she did make the semifinals at last week's tournament in San Diego. Pegula just went through a split with her long-time coach and will be trying to get back on her feet quickly with a respectable result at Indian Wells.
Indian Wells Picks
I'd totally go with Swiatek, but she will have to face the likes of Rybakina, Jelena Ostapenko, and Linda Noskova en route to a potential final. Can she beat all of those opponents? Of course. However, I'm liking Rybakina a lot more because of her current form. Also, a bet on Gauff, who will be a fan favorite, doesn't hurt, either.
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