Britain’s Emma Raducanu will play world number three Coco Gauff in the second round at Indian Wells – if she can beat Japan’s Moyuka Uchijima in the first round.
Raducanu is scheduled to play world number 52 Uchijima on the tournament’s opening day on Wednesday.
It will be the British number two’s first tournament since a stalking ordeal at the Dubai Tennis Championships last week.
The former US Open champion was shaken after a man “exhibited fixated behaviour” during her second-round match.
The man was later detained and given a restraining order, Dubai Police said.
Raducanu was deliberating whether to travel to the United States for the hard-court event following the incident, but has decided to compete.
In the men’s draw, Novak Djokovic’s second-round opponent could be Australian Nick Kyrgios.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion is also projected to meet Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight, in a repeat of their Australian Open quarter-final.
Andy Murray has flown to the United States to continue his coaching role with Djokovic, with the pair having worked together on a trial basis at January’s Australian Open.
British number one Katie Boulter, who has a first-round bye, will play Romania’s Irina-Camelia Begu or American Ann Li in the second round.
In the men’s draw, Cameron Norrie faces Luca Nardi and Jacob Fearnley will play 18-year-old Brazilian Joao Fonseca, who won his first ATP singles title at the Argentina Open last month.
The winner of that match will play British number one Jack Draper, who has a first-round bye.
The Californian event is one of the biggest tournaments of the season outside of the four Grand Slams, with the world’s best men and women competing in a combined ATP/WTA event over a fortnight.
Coco Gauff could face a fellow Grand Slam champion in her first match at Indian Wells after the draw is made
Coco Gauff will be hoping for a change in fortunes after a disappointing Middle Eastern swing.
Gauff, who is the world number three, has struggled for form since reaching the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
The American first played in Doha, where Gauff lost her only match to Marta Kostyuk in straight sets.
Even more concerns were raised for the former US Open champion in the following tournament, with Gauff making unwanted history in Dubai.
Despite her recent misfortunes, Gauff is not the only player struggling, with Aryna Sabalenka also finding wins hard to come by.
Gauff will make her return at Indian Wells, but has been handed a difficult draw in her opening match of the tournament.
Coco Gauff could face Emma Raducanu in the second round of Indian Wells
As the third seed Gauff receives an automatic bye to the second round, where she will play the winner of the match between 2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu and Moyuka Uchijima.
Raducanu, who is without a permanent coach at the moment, has previously enjoyed the conditions at Indian Wells and reached the last-16 at the WTA 1000 tournament in 2023.
Gauff made the semi-finals for the first time last year, but Indian Wells may have a different feel in 2025 after the tournament altered its surface.
If she is able to overcome Raducanu or Uchijima in her second round match, Gauff could play two-time Indian Wells finalist Maria Sakkari.
Things won’t get much easier for Gauff with potential meetings against the likes of Qatar Open champion Amanda Anisimova, Australian Open champion Madison Keys and world number one Sabalenka.
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If Gauff is to reach the Indian Wells final for the first time in her career she could face defending champion Iga Swiatek.
Iga Swiatek (2)/Jessica Pegula (4)/ Elena Rybakina (7)/Qinwen Zheng (8)
Has Coco Gauff played Emma Raducanu before?
Gauff and Raducanu have played on one previous occasion in a match that came in the second round of the 2023 Australian Open.
It was Gauff who came out on the winning side of the match on that occasion, beating Raducanu 6-3 7-6(4) on Rod Laver Arena.
When speaking about the match in her post-match press conference, Gauff was full of credit for Raducanu and admitted that she was not surprised by the level that her opponent showed against her.
“I wouldn’t say anything surprised me because I feel like I’ve watched enough of her play,” Gauff said at the time. “I knew how she was going to come out.
“I definitely was impressed – well I wouldn’t say ‘impressed’ – but I knew she’s like a Grand Slam champion. I knew she had it in her. But she raised her level a lot towards the end of the second set.
“It takes a lot of resilience I feel like to do that, especially in the big stages and the big matches. When you’re down a set and a break, it’s easy to throw in the towel. I think she did a good job of raising her level when she needed to. Just honestly, tiebreakers can go either way, and it went my way tonight.”
The Indian Wells main draw gets underway on Wednesday March 5, with second round matches taking place from Friday March 7.
Chicago Sky star Angel Reese is gearing up for her second WNBA season while also taking part in the inaugural year of the Unrivaled League.
Rose also hosts a weekly podcast called “Unapologetically Angel” which also features a lot of notable soundbites.
In a new episode of the show, Reese made a surprising admission from her childhood days.
“You know I used to call the police when I was a kid,” Reese said. “My mom used to get pissed. I used to call the police on my babysitter.
“I was calling the police on her,” Reese continued. “I didn’t want to stay there. I didn’t want her watching me, that’s why.”
Reese kept saying her mom used to be “pissed” about her calling the police, and eventually she stopped doing it.
“She said if I call the police one more time she going to let them take me,” Reese said about how her mom.
Right after that, Reese revealed her mom drafted up fake paperwork to send her and her brother to a foster home because they were acting bad.
It was an extremely candid clip from Reese about her childhood, although the Sky star admitted she was “scared” after seeing the fake foster care papers.
As far far basketball goes, Reese’s Unrivaled team, the Rose, face off against the Mist on Saturday.
Defending BNP Paribas Open champion Iga Swiatekreturned to a court that has been quite friendly to her over the last few seasons.
That court is Stadium 1 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, where the Polish star has lifted not just one but two Tennis Paradise crowns in the last three years.
The 2022 and 2024 champion was back in action Friday afternoon in Indian Wells as she tunes up to try to become the first three-time women’s champion in BNP Paribas Open history.
Check out these photos from Swiatek’s first practice session in her return to the desert.
Iga Swiatek has enjoyed a solid start to her 2025 campaign, reaching the quarter-finals of all four events she’s participated in.
The world number two began her season with a trip to the United Cup final with Poland, losing out to the United States, 2-0.
She was then just a point away from reaching the Melbourne final before Swiatek lost to Madison Keys in a thriller on Rod Laver Arena.
After her defeat down under, Swiatek traveled to the Middle East for the two WTA 1000 events in Doha, and Dubai.
Losing her fifth straight encounter with the Latvian star, Swiatek fell to defeat against Jelena Ostapenko in the semi-finals of the Qatar Open, where she was the three-time defending champion.
Heading to Dubai, Swiatek lost to Mirra Andreeva in the last eight, as the Russian 17-year-old went on to win the title.
As the Pole now looks ahead to the WTA 1000 tournaments in Indian Wells, and Miami, she has taken the time to reflect on her biggest inspiration in tennis.
Iga Swiatek says ‘inspiration’ Rafael Nadal impressed her most with his ‘values’
Speaking on her new website, Swiatek explained how she originally felt about tennis as a youngster and named the ATP star who inspired her the most.
“Tennis was not love at first sight,” she said.
“Competing and pushing my own limits was, I had to mature into a passion for tennis.”
“Without a doubt, my biggest sports inspiration and I probably won’t surprise anyone here has always been Rafael Nadal.
“Mastery in sports is one thing, but what impresses me the most is what values he lives by and what kind of person he is despite his incredible success.
“This is definitely the path I would like to follow.”
Swiatek and Nadal played together in the ‘Tennis Plays for Peace’ event ahead of the 2022 US Open, facing off against Coco Gauff and John McEnroe in a light-hearted exhibition match.
The Pole and Spaniard won 10-8, both hitting ‘tweeners’ during a thrilling point at 3-1, which got fans out of their seats.
Swiatek then explained how her tennis success has affected her over recent years, admitting that it can sometimes feel ‘overwhelming.’
“Tennis has made me a recognizable person in Poland and in many places around the world,” she said.
“People and the media are often interested in me and in what I am doing (which can sometimes be overwhelming), and I want to use this attention to bring about positive change.
“That’s why I speak openly about the importance of mental health, the joy and benefits of physical activity and sports, especially for children and young people.”
Comparing Iga Swiatek and Rafael Nadal at the French Open
Swiatek has spoken openly about her admiration for Nadal throughout her career to date and has worked hard to replicate the successes he enjoyed on the ATP Tour.
Nadal won a record 14 French Open titles during his time as a professional, a record that many believe will never be touched.
Swiatek’s four Roland Garros crowns see her closer to Nadal’s record than any other active tennis player, as she looks almost as dominant as the Spaniard on the Parisian clay.
Player
Titles
Most consecutive titles
Win/Loss record
Win %
Rafael Nadal
14
5
112-4
97
Iga Swiatek
4
3*
35-2
95
Rafael Nadal and Iga Swiatek’s record at the French Open
The Pole has won 35 of her 37 matches in Paris, lifting the trophy at each of the past three tournaments.
Swiatek’s 2024 French Open victory was one of her most dominant, dropping just 11 games in her final three matches as she won her fourth Roland Garros title.
When she returns to the French capital later this year, she’ll do so having not lost at the event in over 1,350 days.
Entering as a heavy favorite, the pressure will be firmly on Swiatek’s shoulders, as she will perhaps look to Nadal for inspiration once more when the French Open kicks off on Sunday, May 25.
“Whether it’s box braids, twists, or my natural hair, it’s a form of self-expression that I’m really proud of,” Coco Gauff once said, and she continues to embody that pride with every new look. A rising force in the WTA, Gauff has navigated a sport where diversity is still growing, forging her path with resilience. But her journey is deeply inspired by Venus and Serena Williams, not just their Grand Slam success, but their fearless self-expression and style statements. With their game and their signature styles, the Williams sisters redefined tennis, and Gauff is carrying that legacy forward. Recently she even suggested combining her unique hairstyle with the long-standing legacy of the Williams sisters on the court.
In celebration of Black History Month, the World No. 3 and reigning WTA Finals champion Coco Gauff showcased a striking new hairstyle paying tribute to the legendary Williams sisters. Teaming up with Carol’s Daughter, Gauff unveiled a look featuring beaded cornrows; an affectionate homage to Serena and Venus, who famously made headlines in the early 2000s with their iconic beaded hairstyles in the tennis arena.
Just one day ago, the official page of Carol’s Daughter shared a collaboration video with Coco where she said, “I remember obviously watching Venus and Serena when I was young. This look is kind of a homage to them. They’ve always changed their hair. They had the beads, they had the braids, they had the curls, they had straight, they had everything.” The 20-year-old also talked about her journey as a black tennis athlete in the current generation. “When I became more aware of what I wanted to do with my hair, I was inspired by and took note of what they were doing with theirs.”
However, just as the video got online, the hair designer Yojanse Jimenez shared another video on his IG where Coco was flaunting her hair, captioning, “A crown braided in history. ✨ For @cocogauff, this beaded braid look is more than just a style—it’s a tribute to the legacy of Venus and Serena, who paved the way for champions like her. Honoring the past while celebrating the present, Coco continues to inspire the next generation with her talent, grace, and undeniable power. 🖤🏆”. Later, the 9-time WTA singles title winner shared the same video on her IG stories, adding, “#YojanseDidIt”.
Although Coco first burst onto the tennis scene in 2019, sporting ‘box braids’ at Wimbledon, by the 2023 US Open, she had switched to ‘cornrows’. “Honestly, I wanted to try this and I got tired of braids all the time. I like to change up my hair. I’ve tried color in the past with the braids and everything, but I just needed something different,” she even said at that time.
Her passion for hairstyling experimentation was amplified through a long-term collaboration with Carol’s Daughter, a brand renowned for its celebration of Black beauty. Even before their official collaboration, the current no. 3 had been a longtime user of the brand’s products, making the partnership feel like a natural fit.
This was, however, not the first instance of Coco Gauff paying tribute to the Williams sisters, notwithstanding her elaborate braided hairstyle.
“Having role models like Serena and Venus to look up to made a difference” — Coco Gauff opens up about the Williams sisters
Coco Gauff has repeatedly emphasized the considerable impact of Venus and Serena Williams on her career, describing them as inspirational figures who facilitated her achievements. Featuring in a video clip by Baker Tilly US last year, the 2023 US Champion candidly reflected on her experience as a black athlete in a ‘predominantly white’ sport. She noted that a lack of local recognition for her on-court achievements during her youth highlighted the profound influence of pioneering figures like the Williams sisters on her career trajectory.
“Finding myself was difficult. Being Black in tennis is, sometimes you do stick out like a sore thumb. Like in the Black community, tennis is not a huge thing. Nobody really knew anything about it. I had mentioned that I play tennis but nobody cared,” she said.
Continuing further, Coco added, “But I feel like for me, having role models like Serena and Venus to look up to make a difference. Honestly, I just remember watching Venus at US Open. My dad got second-row tickets and we were so close and that was a cool thing,”.
On the court, Coco will next compete at the Indian Wells Open starting March 5th. Do you think she is a strong favorite for the title there?
Coco Gauff, the 2023 US Open champion and current World No. 3, once revealed who she believes is the GOAT of tennis.
Coco Gauff cemented her status as one of the top players in the world when she won her first Grand Slam title at the 2023 US Open. The 20-year-old has been ranked as high as world No. 2 in singles, being world No. 1 in doubles, and has also won the WTA Finals, adding another major trophy to her cabinet. While she keeps building a career, the youngster made her feelings known about who should be called the “GOAT” in tennis.
“Serena is Serena. She’s the GOAT,” Gauff said of the younger Williams sister right after qualifying for the US Open final in 2023. “I’d hope to do half of what she did. But I’m not gonna compare myself to her,” she added.
“She’s my idol,” Gauff told the press. “The only regret I’ll have for the rest of my life is not being able to play her. There were so many tournaments where if we won an extra round and didn’t lose, I would’ve played her. But I’m still happy to just be a product of her legacy and be out here for American tennis.”
When she won the US Open at 19 years old, Gauff became the first American teenager to win the title since Serena in 1999. While she said that Serena is the GOAT, Gauff has also expressed admiration for Venus, whom she beat in her first Wimbledon match back in 2019.
“They are the reason I picked up a racquet,” Gauff told UPI after her Wimbledon debut. Serena has supported Coco on several occasions, even attending her Round of 16 match at the 2024 US Open.
Serena Williams is one of the most famous tennis players
Winner of 23 Grand Slam singles titles and four Olympic gold medals, Williams is the only player to have accomplished the career Golden Slam in singles and doubles. She is also, often credited with her sister Venus, one of the most influential players, bringing a new style of power to the WTA. Meanwhile, she is also part of the highest-paid tennis players of all time.
On the other hand, Serena is still the most popular female tennis player in the world, with 19% of tennis followers selecting her as her favorite player (YouGov, 2023). However, in the United States, Serena is by far the most popular and the most famous. According to YouGov, she has 91% of fame and 63% of popularity among all adults for the last quarter of 2024.
Coco Gauff Joins Iga Swiatek and Others To Hype WTA’s Brand New Move Which Is Set To Transform Women’s Tennis
The Women’s Tennis Association is on a roll, driven by innovative branding strategies and a talented pool of players. The WTA has enhanced its appeal through partnerships with CVC Capital Partners, aiming to elevate the sport’s commercial profile and accelerate growth since 2023. Charismatic players like Coco Gauff and Iga Swiatek are also boosting the WTA’s allure. One might recall Gauff’s 2023 US Open final against Aryna Sabalenka drew a record 3.4 million viewers on ESPN, marking a 92% increase from the previous year’s women’s final between Swiatek and Ons Jabeur. The WTA is never short on offering fans compelling storylines and competitive matches throughout the year. And they don’t intend to stop just there!
On February 24, the WTA’s Instagram posted an exciting video featuring top players like Iga Swiatek, Madison Keys, Paula Badosa, Qinwen Zheng, Sara Sorribes Tormo, Daria Kasatkina, Ons Jabeur, and Coco Gauff. In the video, these players take turns narrating: “It’s about to get loud. The wait is almost over. A new era begins soon. Are you ready? This is it. You won’t want to miss this.” The cinematic brilliance has fans buzzing about the WTA’s new move. But what is this new move?
According to a post by reporter John Horn on X: “Tennis fans…BIG WTA news coming on February 27th… Total rebranding & new look on broadcasts & website being announced… Debuts on TV at the start of Indian Wells… Big upgrades to all aspects… Very impressed with the sneak peek.. Stay tuned #WTA #DDFTennis.” Well, going by this post, the rebranding will revolutionize the WTA experience for players and fans alike. With just two days left before the big reveal, the excitement is palpable now.
The WTA has achieved several milestones recently. This year’s Australian Open saw a remarkable increase in viewership, with Australia witnessing a 55% rise, followed by the UK at 54% and the US at 48%. American audiences watched the Women’s Singles more than the Men’s Singles by a 4% margin, largely thanks to Madison Keys’ performance, marking a significant moment for women’s tennis. But that’s not the only highlight for WTA.
The WTA celebrates all its highlights over the past year
In 2024, the WTA offered a record-breaking prize money of $221 million —a whopping $42 million increase from 2023. The excitement doesn’t stop there; two major WTA 1000 events, the National Bank Open, and the Cincinnati Open, are expanding to 12-day tournaments, offering a bigger stage for top athletes. Meanwhile, the WTA is also revamping its grass-court schedule in the UK, introducing a new WTA 500 event at Queen’s Club in London, featuring stars like Naomi Osaka, Madison Keys, and Emma Raducanu, followed by WTA 250s in Nottingham and Eastbourne. Additionally, the WTA 125s are getting a boost with an expanded calendar and live streaming on WTA Unlocked.
Last season was a huge success, with attendance increasing by 15% and a global audience surpassing 1 billion for the second consecutive year. The WTA’s social media presence is also on fire, with the top 20 players now reaching a combined 58.5 million followers—a 29% increase over the past year. Forbes has noted that 11 of the world’s 20 highest-earning female athletes are WTA players, highlighting the sport’s growing momentum.
Beyond the court, the WTA Foundation is advancing its philanthropic initiatives, focusing on women’s health and empowerment through campaigns like Women Change the Game. This effort aims to improve women’s health and nutrition globally, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. As the WTA continues to break barriers, Portia Archer, CEO of the WTA, emphasizes their global impact: “We are incredibly proud to have the largest global reach in women’s sport, with events in 26 countries and regions and a worldwide audience of more than one billion.”
She added, “As the original trailblazer in women’s sport, our ambitions go well beyond the court. We will continue to champion our incredible athletes and create real change through our programmes and commitment to advocate for women’s health and empowerment around the world.”
With the WTA’s latest update just around the corner, anticipation is building —it’s an electrifying time for tennis fans!
Some of us never quite get over that silver medal we won back in high school trampolining, others just win, and win, and win again.
One of those men is Rafael Nadal – and his net worth isn’t the only reason he’s always smiling.
Nadal’s record in professional tennis is exceptional. We’re talking 22 Grand Slam men’s single titles, 92 ATP-level singles titles, and a record-breaking 14 French Opens (with an absolutely ridiculous 112-4 career record there).
He was first or second favorite with tennis sportsbooks to win the French open for an astonishing 16 years straight from 2006 to 2021.
The man even has a couple of Olympic gold medals buried somewhere beneath his boxes of trophies.
One major benefit of all that success is a healthy bank account. Let’s slice through Nadal’s net worth and see what we’re dealing with.
Rafael Nadal’s net worth
Brace yourselves, as Nadal’s net worth might shock you.
His total net worth is estimated to be in the region of $220 million. That’s enough for him to pay all the prize money to every player at the Wimbledon Championships for three years straight and still have enough left over to buy a 100ft superyacht.
And all he had to do was be the number one tennis player in the world for 209 weeks, including one spell of over a year straight. Easy.
Career earnings
Nadal’s net worth includes around $135 million in prize money alone since he turned pro in 2001.
It’s not surprising when you consider how many titles he’s amassed in both singles and doubles tennis.
Nadal had been part of the top three tennis players in the world for more than a decade alongside Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.
For years, those three, along with Andy Murray made the game look easy – and working out how to bet on tennis easier still.
Nadal bagged his first Grand Slam, and the first on that record-breaking streak of French Open wins back in 2005.
He was just 19. In fact, had the tournament been held a week earlier, he’d have only been 18.
And he might not be done yet. Although Nadal previously suggested he might retire after the current season, he more recently indicated that he was “enjoying playing tennis” and wasn’t ready to “close, 100 per cent, the door”.
Sounds like the King of Clay still has some oil in the tank.
Endorsements and Business Ventures
As one of the ‘big three’ in tennis for so long, and boosted even more by his famous rivalry with Djokovic, there aren’t many sports fans who don’t know the name Rafael Nadal.
His net worth has certainly benefited from this celebrity status, even when not among the favorites for Wimbledon and other major tournaments.
Nadal’s business ventures are impressive. He’s enjoyed a slew of sponsorships and endorsements over the years, covering everything from high-end fashion (Emporio Armani) to cars (Kia Motors).
One particularly interesting partnership Nadal signed was with PokerStars, one of the most popular online poker sites in the world.
This has given players a chance to see another side of Nadal, taking him on at the digital felt and sitting across from him at live tournaments.
You could even have won a weekend away to Majorca with the former world number one to play some poker, break bread, and hit a few balls on the court.
We almost forgot – he also has a $10 million deal with little-known sportswear outfit Nike.
He’s done his own thing, too. Nadal opened the Rafa Nadal Tennis Academy in 2016, delivering a tennis experience mainly aimed at youngsters.
Visitors can check out the museum, engage in one-on-one tennis coaching and much more. And all for the low, low price of more than $60,000 per year.
Conclusion
When you’re the best in the world at anything, whether it’s sports, cooking or dancing, there’ll always be a queue of people lining up to pay for your expertise.
Nadal’s net worth is a testament to his immense skill, dedication, and incredible achievements in the world of tennis.
The 38-year-old pro is in the later years of his career, as reflected by his current world ranking which is way down the list, around the 250-mark.
He is due to play for Spain at the 2024 Olympics in Paris in what may be his final tournament.
Although his net worth of $220 million isn’t going to skyrocket from career earnings from now, between the Nadal academy and his other business ventures, it’s safe to say the tennis legend has a few aces up his sleeve yet.
World number three Gauff hopes to bounce back from her early exit in Doha at the WTA 1000 tournament in Dubai (16-22 February).
Coco Gauff will be in action at the 2025 Dubai Tennis Championships (16-22 February) in the United Arab Emirates.
In the second WTA 1000 tennis tournament of the season, the world number three will be aiming for a reaction in Dubai, having fallen at the first hurdle in the previous tournament in Doha, Qatar.
Gauff was beaten in straight sets by unseeded player Marta Kostyuk in the second round of the Qatar Open, to which she had received a bye due to being seeded.
The 20-year-old begins her campaign at the same stage against fellow American and world no. 53 McCartney Kessler, who upset eventual Qatar champion Amanda Anisimova in the first round in Dubai.
Gauff has won two WTA 1000 titles in her career as she targets a third in the UAE, where the Dubai Tennis Championships final will take place on Saturday, 22 February.
Here is how to watch Gauff in Dubai on the latest stop on the WTA tennis tour.
Coco Gauff crashes out in second round at Qatar Open
Coco Gauff: Top things you might not know about the American tennis ace
Dubai Tennis Championships 2025 – how to watch live
The Dubai Tennis Championships will be broadcast on Tennis Channel in the United States, Spain and India, while it will be shown in Canada on TSN/TVA.
PARIS, FRANCE – JUNE 3. Coco Gauff of the United States in action against Mirra Andreeva of Russia in the third round of the singles competition on Court Suzanne Lenglen during the 2023 French Open Tennis Tournament at Roland Garros on June 3, 2023, in Paris, France. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images)
Fans in Africa can watch on SuperSport, and Australian supporters will be able to watch the WTA 1000 tournament on beIN Sports.
Men’s world number one Jannik Sinner accepts three-month ban in settlement with World Anti-Doping Agency
WTA Qatar Open 2025 – Coco Gauff’s schedule
18 February: Second Round – Gauff vs McCartney Kessler (USA)
19 February: Third Round – Gauff/Kessler vs Emma Raducanu (GBR)/Karolina Muchova (CZE)
