The fifth Grand Slam. It is a nickname that the BNP Paribas opens likes to go around, and in many ways, it is a precise affirmation.
Players certainly think about this. It is therefore natural that the Indian Wells tournament does everything he can to imitate the big chelems, and another step on this path is the inclusion of a mixed double tournament.
The tournament plunged its toe into the world of mixed doubles in 2024 with what seemed to be a tournament with eight tips at the forefront which was won by the Australian duo of Storm Hunter and Matthew Ebden.
This year is the real deal. There will be a field of 12 teams with the couples revealed on Monday and the action from Tuesday. The league match will be played on Friday.
The BNP Paribas Open will officially be the only Masters 1000 event to have double mixed. The prize for last year for the event was $ 150,000, this year will be larger.
I am a fan of this development. He adds Slam gravity to the open BNP Paribas, and mixed doubles are among the most exciting tennis on the market.
It will be fascinating to see who plays in it. I would expect some mixed double specialists such as the own desert desirae krawczyk, but having it during the second weekend allows them to reach out to certain key actors who may have already been eliminated singles.
Let’s dream. What about a mixed double mixed team from Novak Djokovic and Naomi Osaka? How about a star duo from Iva Jovic and Joao Fonseca’s teenager? Casper Ruud and Emma Raducanu?
They have time to kill until Miami. Stay in the desert, hit the training courts, get some competitive action, maybe bring a little additional money home?
It seems to me to be obvious. Let’s do it.
Shad Powers is a columnist for the desert sun. Go to [email protected].
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: BNP Paribas open for having extended the event in a mixed double, will it be a star?
