The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells has changed their surface provider from Plexipave to Laykold and now have the same surface as the Miami Open Masters and the US Open. However, the conditions in Indian Wells are significantly different from any other tournaments due to being held in the middle of a desert. In the press conference, players from both ATP and WTA were asked about the change and their assessments. We have responses from top ranked players:
Top Players React to Indian Wells Surface Change
Carlos Alcaraz
Two-time defending champion, Carlos Alcaraz seemed perplexed due to the change in surface.
Interviewer: “The courts have been resurfaced here. Some of the players said they’re playing a little faster in the practice sessions. How would that suit your game a little bit, or do you think it will make a difference much?:
Alcaraz: “Honestly, it’s a change that I didn’t understand when I saw it, it was 25 years the tournament, it was the same court, and then right now has changed. I don’t know the reason why they did it. I have to practice on it. I think I consider myself a player who adapts his game very well, you know, on the surfaces and all the conditions that you’re playing on. I think I play great tennis anyway, even though the courts are a bit faster. But all I can say is I didn’t understand when I saw it.”
Aryna Sabalenka
World No.1 Aryna Sabalenka liked the new surface for her game style.
Interviewer: “The courts have a new surface this year, how are they playing?”
Sabalenka: “I love them. They are a little faster, which is good for me, right? It feels good so far. I’ll tell you later after my first match. I hope I’ll still like it.”
Daniil Medvedev
World No.6 Daniil Medvedev has had a lot of history with the Indian Wells courts and his early assessment was different from Alcaraz and Sabalenka.
Interviewer: “You had one of the more famous comments about these courts, and now they have redone them and sped them up. Have you hit on them yet or maybe not yet? How are you finding them?”
Medvedev: “I did, and I will be honest with you, it’s okay, I like Indian Wells, I even like the courts now, but they seem to be almost slower than before, very slow. I don’t know what other players think, but as I said, I just had two days, jet-lagged. So I won’t be able to tell you that I’m sure what I’m saying. But, yeah, I played two days, and they seemed very, very slow, so let’s see how it plays during the tournament.”
Elena Rybakina
The Indian Wells surface has typically been very high-bouncing, but with the resurfacing to Laykold, a lower-bouncing surface, the bounce is projected to be lower than in past editions of the tournament. World No.7 and 2023 champion, Elena Rybakina confirms it.
Interviewer: “How are the courts feeling this year with the new surface?”
Rybakina: “I feel that it’s not much faster, but I will say maybe the bounce is a little bit lower. The past few days were very windy and a lot of sun came, so it’s also a bit different, the bounce. But I think the court’s still nice.”
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
