“I am certain we will continue to cement ourselves as one of the best sporting events in the world,” Larry Ellison, the visionary behind the ‘Indian Wells Tennis Garden’ and BNP Paribas Open, confidently stated back in 2013. And true to his words, the tournament has continually refined itself, blending breathtaking desert landscapes with world-class facilities. From its ‘palm-lined’ courts to its lush ‘green surroundings,’ it’s a spectacle unlike any other Masters event. And the American sensation Coco Gauff can’t stop raving about it. The 20-year-old was presented with exciting gifts upon her arrival, heightening her enthusiasm. But what exactly did she receive?

Coco Gauff, has had a relatively underwhelming season so far in 2025. After delivering a world-class performance at the United Cup, she suffered a shocking QF exit at the AO, falling to the resurgent Spaniard, player, Paula Badosa. Her struggles continued in the Middle East swing, where she faced shocking back-to-back early exits at both the Qatar Total Energies Open and the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships, losing to Marta Kostyuk and McCartney Kessler, respectively. 

Despite the setbacks, Gauff recently made a dazzling appearance at the Academy Awards before setting her sights on her fifth outing at Indian Wells. And, as soon as she arrived at the tournament, the World No. 3 was presented with opulent gift hampers.

Coco took to her Instagram story and added a video, writing, “thank you @bnpparibasopen it felt like christmas opening these gifts lol”. She then described what those guddis included, adding, “I am gonna show you guys what BNP Paribas Open, aka, Indian Wells Open got me because, this is the most beautiful tournament gifts that I ever got and I’m gonna show you. My heart academia shirt, I love it. They give me a “Golf le Fleur” perfume, I love this perfume.”

Coco continued, “There are some hello goodies that I absolutely love. They gave me UNO cards that made me so excited cause I play them a lot and I will find people to play with this cards. Skin care stuff, and I am not sure what it i,s but I will open up and see,”.

The BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, a premier ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event, has earned its place as the Tennis Paradise, consistently voted the Tournament of the Year for nine straight years. With record-breaking attendance, stunning desert scenery, and top-tier facilities, it stands as the most prestigious non-GS event on both the ATP and WTA tours. While the tournament’s fan-friendly atmosphere and 20 onsite practice courts remain unchanged, it continually evolves to enhance the experience for both players and spectators.

Last year, the competition also introduced exciting upgrades. For instance, a new partnership with “Sodexo Live!” brings expanded dining options with local restaurant partners, while a digital revamp includes a redesigned website, an improved tournament app and a dedicated player app for the fans. They can also enjoy the return of ‘radio earpieces’, upgraded player facilities, and new LED video boards on the biggest courts. These enhancements ensure that the tournament remains a world-class tennis destination both for players and fans.

And speaking of players, Coco Gauff, who had an impressive run to the SF at Indian Wells last year, her best result at the WTA 1000 event so far, has officially arrived for her 5th appearance at the tournament. The former US Open winner, eager to build on her past success, shared her thoughts ahead of the competition, reflecting on her journey and anticipation for the prestigious event. 

“It’s going to happen,” Coco Gauff sharing light on her losses in the Middle East 

The American ,No. 1 Coco Gauff, ended her 2024 season on a triumphant note, capturing the prestigious WTA Finalstitle and re-establishing herself among the elite in women’s tennis. She carried that momentum into the new season this year, leading Team USA to victory at the United Cup. However, the former US Open champion’s form has taken a dip since then. While her recent form has been concerning, Coco now prepares for the upcoming BNP Paribas Open, a tournament where she previously reached the quarterfinals in 2023 and the third round in 2021 and 2022.

Last year, Gauff’s campaign at Indian Wells ended in a hard-fought 3-set battle against Maria Sakkari in the SF. However, before losing to Sakkari, Coco was 20 matches unbeaten on US soil. As she gears up for this year’s event, the American ace, who was recently praised by her mom Candi for her Oscar red carpet look, acknowledged her recent struggles but remained optimistic about turning things around. 

“Yeah, for me, I don’t know, everybody makes a bigger deal than what it is… I lost two matches. I’ll lose more matches back to back, it’s going to happen. Everyone is, like, oh, she’s sinking. Okay, we’ve been through this. I’ll pick it back up. To me, for me, I guess it feels like a month but it’s just two tournaments, and at this calendar, I have so many other opportunities, and I can’t win every match,” Gauff said at the pre-tournament press conference from the desserts of Indian Wells recently. 

At the 2025 BNP Paribas Open, the third seed, Coco Gauff, will start her campaign in the second round after a first-round bye. With potential matchups against Madison Keys, Aryna Sabalenka, and Iga Swiatek, can the 20-year-old overcome the tough draw to lift the trophy?