The wait is nearly over, as the 2025 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is about to begin. The reveal of the second batch of wild cards for this year’s tournament has fans excited for the first leg of the Sunshine Double.

Among the first names to receive Wildcards were Brazil’s Joao Fonseca and the returning Petra Kvitova. The event organizers have now listed nine more players who have been granted a wild card to compete in one of the most prestigious tournaments on the calendar. But who are they?

Nine More Players Receive Indian Wells Wild Cards

Heading the new list on the men’s side is rising NextGen star Nishesh Basavareddy. The 19-year-old American made quite the splash in January when he reached his first ATP semifinal as a qualifier in Auckland. Basavareddy also impressed on his Grand Slam main draw debut at the Australian Open. He famously took a set from 24-time Major champion Novak Djokovic in Melbourne in a four-set defeat. This will be his first appearance in Indian Wells.

Second on the list is Reilly Opelka. The tall American initially opted to use his protected ranking to access a main draw berth. But he’s now been given a wild card and can choose to use the PR in another tournament. Opelka has an 8-4 record in 2025. In January, he reached his first ATP final in three years at the Brisbane International. The former world #17 last played at the Indian Wells Masters in 2022 (lost to Rafael Nadal in the last 16).

Tristan Boyer has been awarded the third wild card. The 23-year-old is a three-time champion on the Challenger Tour and qualified for the 2025 Australian Open (reaching the second round). Boyer’s only previous appearance in Indian Wells was seven years ago when he lost in the first round of qualifying as a 16-year-old.

Learner Tien’s wild card spot has been freed up because of a large number of withdrawals. He has entered the main draw with his current ranking. The BNP Paribas Open is expected to announce his replacement.

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Five Americans Lead Women’s Wild Card List

On the women’s side, Belinda Bencic is on the newly released wild card list. She is one of two moms who have been granted a wild card into the main draw of Indian Wells (the other is Petra Kvitova). The Swiss’ comeback has been a revelation. She has won 13 of 17 matches this season and lifted her 10th career title in Abu Dhabi in February.

Five other wild cards have gone to American players. The first one is Sloane Stephens. The former US Open champion is now a veteran in the sport. Stephens made her Indian Wells debut in 2010 and has played in every edition except for 2017 (injured) and 2020 (canceled because of coronavirus).

The second is an interesting one. Two-time junior Grand Slam champion Iva Jovic will make her Indian Wells bout. The 17-year-old is regarded as one of the best up-and-coming young players in the women’s game and is ranked a career-high world #165. She was runner-up at the 2023 International Junior Championships at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The third American wild card in the women’s draw is Robin Montgomery. The 20-year-old hasn’t played since the Australian Open qualifying rounds in January. This will be her third main draw appearance in Indian Wells.

Another lefty wild card is Bernarda Pera. She will be playing for the fourth time in the main draw. Pera reached the third round in 2023. That remains her best appearance in the tournament.

Alycia Parks completes the current list. The big-serving American is 9-6 for the season and has not won a match in the Indian Wells main draw in two previous tries.

Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams won’t compete as initially expected. The 44-year-old legend declined her wild card, which opened up space for another player to take that spot.

Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – Imagn Images