With the Sunshine Swing about to get underway—the 2025 BNP Paribas Open begins on Wednesday, March 5—our writers and editors tackle the most important questions heading into Indian Wells and Miami.
Next up: Which tournament is tougher to win—Indian Wells or Miami?
ED MCGROGAN: All things being equal, Miami is the more likely March mini-major to feature a significant withdrawal—all the top players just competed at Indian Wells. It’s also closer to the European clay-court stretch that is home to so many of the sport’s stars. No one lets their foot off the gas for the Miami Open on purpose, but the BNP Paribas Open seems to get the most out of its competitors solely because it comes first. That said, either tournament’s champions roll is anything but outstanding.
DAVID KANE: One of the worrying by-products of the sport’s ever-evolving circuit structure is players risk diminishing returns at the second of back-to-back big tournaments. Amanda Anisimova was on top of the world when she won Doha on a Saturday. By Monday, she had already lost in the first round of Dubai, barely 48 hours later. The turnaround from Indian Wells to Miami isn’t as extreme, but it’s still the final tournament of a three-month grind that starts in Australia and ends in hot and humid Florida. With the European swing looming, many may start looking to max out in Indian Wells and find Miami an increasingly tougher ask.
STEPHANIE LIVAUDAIS: Judging by the honor roll, Indian Wells poses a bigger challenge. No woman has won the title more than twice, and even the great Andy Murray never conquered the desert event. In Miami, Serena Williams (8), Djokovic and Andre Agassi (6) have all racked up five-plus wins.
