Report from the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells
by James Handal


Indian Wells- The BNP Paribas Open, one of the world's largest tennis tournament, is just getting underway in Indian Wells, California. The BNP Paribas Open which runs through Sunday, March 18 hosts the top world-ranked tennis players. Top players competing in the tournament this year are Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray, and from the Netherlands, Robin Haase, whose current world ranking is 55.

On the women's side, world- ranked players include Maria Sharapova, former world-ranked No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki, and No. 1 world-ranked Victoria Azarenka. All of the women's players are at the top of their game. Sharapova is coming to Indian Wells after reaching the Australian Open final, losing to Azarenka. Wozniacki lost her spot at No. 1 to Azarenka after the completion of that tournament. The competition should be fierce at Indian Wells.

The first weekend of the tournament, Saturday, March 10 and Sunday, March 11, is very popular. Tennis fans can see many of their top players and enjoy many of the tournament's activities such as autograph sessions. BNP owner, Larry Ellison has made many major improvements to the tournament since he purchased it in 2009. Some of the changes include bringing hawk-eye to all courts, and letting all the fans know when the top players practice so they can go watch them on the practice courts.

Last year's singles champions were Novak Djokovic and Caroline Wozniacki. The men's and women's singles champions will each receive prize money of $1 million.

The BNP Paribas Open is a great tournament. This upcoming weekend, March 10 and March 11 is a great opportunity to watch great tennis.