One player above all will be delighted at this year’s change at Indian Wells.
The ATP and WTA 1000 tournament is hiring a new surface provider for its courts to achieve a faster pace on them, something that will delight Daniil Medvedev.
Tennis court conditions vary across tournaments, mainly due to the atmospheric conditions and the speed of the balls.
Players are expected to adapt to each tournament and their speeds, but one tournament that has always been under the spotlight for its courts is Indian Wells.
The BNP Paribas Open is one of the slowest hard court events on the tour and has remained so despite other events getting quicker surfaces.
Although this year things will look different as organisers of the event have announced they have a new surface provider, Laykold.
This is the same company that makes the courts for the US Open, whose courts are faster, therefore it’s expected Indian Wells may ditch the tag of having the slowest courts on tour for the first time.
Indian Wells have released a statement on their switch of surface providers, citing a need to bring more consistency to the courts.
“Laykold is trusted and chosen as the Official Surface Provider of the BNP Paribas Open to supply its Grand Slam quality court surface to the prestigious venue at Indian Wells Tennis Garden,” the statement read.
“Laykold will bring a new dynamic to the event, ensuring that the ATP and WTA players have the optimal playing environment to be the best they can be. Laykold’s courts deliver 10x greater consistency than the accepted industry standard.
“By fine-tuning court speed to within 0.5 points, Laykold’s scientists and expert installers will bring the most consistent courts in tennis history to California’s ‘fifth major’. This will ensure an exciting, high-level, action-packed BNP Paribas Open in 2025.”
A change in speed will serve as a major relief for some players, specifically World No.6 Medvedev, who has slammed Indian Wells for their slow courts in the past.
“It’s a disgrace to sport, this court,” Medvedev said in an on-court rant during his last-16 win against Alexander Zverev two years ago.
“We should be banned from playing here, a freaking disgrace to sport, this freaking court. And they call it hard courts. What a shame to call this awful court a hard court.
“I’ll go to the toilet, but I don’t care, give me time violation. I’m going to be as slow as the court again. I don’t care; give me five time violations.
“I’ll go in one minute. If they allow us to play on such a court, I can allow myself to do whatever I want.”
For others, a slower hard-court is suited to their playing style.
Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek, who both won the event last year, have enjoyed success in this tournament because of its gritty conditions as players have to rely on their speed, something the pair have in abundance.
