ATP WORLD TOUR & WTA PLAYER ENTRY LISTS RELEASED FOR 2012 BNP PARIBAS

Written by: Staff on 25th January 2012

BNP Paribas 2011 Masters Tennis Tournament

ATP WORLD TOUR & WTA PLAYER ENTRY LISTS RELEASED FOR 2012 BNP PARIBAS

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France returns the ball to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their final match at the BNP Paribas 2011 Masters Tennis tournament in Paris, France, 13 November 2011. EPA/IAN LANGSDON |

INDIAN WELLS, Calif., Jan. 25, 2012 – The BNP Paribas Open, the largest ATP World Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world, to be held March 5-18, 2012 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, will once again feature exceptional men’s and women’s fields highlighted by 11 former BNP Paribas Open champions and 14 Grand Slam champions, it was announced today by Steve Simon, tournament director.

For the first time in the history of the tournament, and for any ATP Masters 1000 or WTA Premier events, the players will compete for more than $11 million in prize money, with the men’s and women’s singles champions taking home $1 million each. Here is a look at 12 men and 12 women to watch for at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open.

12 Men to Watch at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open

Defending champion and World No. 1 Novak Djokovic had one of the best years in the history of tennis in 2011. He started off the year with 41 straight match wins, which included a run to the title at the BNP Paribas Open. In total he captured five ATP Masters 1000 events and three of the four Grand Slams. He has shown no signs of slowing down and will be a force to be reckoned with for players wanting to dethrone him at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open.

Nicknamed “The King of Clay,” World No. 2 Rafael Nadal captured the French Open title in 2011, his sixth in the last seven years at Roland Garros. His game, however, translates across all surfaces, and he is one of only seven male players in history to have won all four Grand Slams in his career. The 2007 and 2009 BNP Paribas Open Champion put up a fight against a streaking Novak Djokovic in the 2011 Indian Wells final, taking the Serbian powerhouse to three sets, but eventually came up short.

There is no doubt that Roger Federer is one of the greatest players of all time. He holds 16 Grand Slam titles, the most of any male player in the history of the sport, and won three straight BNP Paribas Open titles from 2004-2006. In 2011, despite a valiant three-set effort, Federer lost in the BNP Paribas Open semifinals to a red-hot Djokovic. Last year also marked the first time since 2002 that Federer did not end the year with at least one Grand Slam title, but he still reached the semifinal at the Australian and US Opens, the final at the French Open and capped off the season by winning the ATP World Tour Finals for a record sixth time.

The No. 4 ranked player in the world Andy Murray made a bold move in hiring eight-time Grand Slam champion Ivan Lendl as his coach for the 2012 season. He is trying to build on his successful 2011 campaign where he reached the semifinal at Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the U.S. Open, reached the final at the Australian Open, and captured five titles including two Masters 1000 crowns. The Brit has played well at the BNP Paribas Open in the past, reaching the final in 2009, but lost in the 2011 second round to rising American Donald Young.

At No. 8 in the world, Mardy Fish is the highest-ranked American player. The 2008 BNP Paribas Open finalist had a great run the last year and a half, winning three titles and reaching four finals. He fell in the second round last year, but the Minnesota native now makes his home in Los Angeles and will look to grab strong crowd support in seeking his first Masters 1000 crown.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga burst onto the tennis scene as a surprise finalist at the 2008 Australian Open and later that year, the Frenchman reached his career-high ranking of World No. 6, which is where he currently sits. In one of the best comebacks of 2011, the heavy-hitting Tsonga fought back from two sets down in the Wimbledon quarterfinals against six-time champion Roger Federer. Tsonga, who fell in the second round of the 2011 BNP Paribas Open, is one of the most energetic and charismatic players on tour and definitely one to watch at the 2012 event.

The 6’6” Argentine Juan Martin del Potro won his first Grand Slam at the 2009 U.S. Open and shortly after reached a career-high ranking of World No. 4. However, in the months following, a wrist injury forced him out of the sport for an extended period of time during which he dropped to No. 485. He entered the 2011 BNP Paribas Open ranked No. 90 in the world, made a run to the semifinals, and cemented his return as one of the top players in the game. Now ranked No. 11, look for him to make waves in 2012 and be a serious contender in Indian Wells.

Former World No. 1 and 2003 U.S. Open Champion Andy Roddick almost captured the BNP Paribas Open title in 2010, falling in the final to Ivan Ljubicic in three sets. The best American male player over the last decade, he has 30 ATP World Tour titles on his resume and is always a fan favorite. After dismissing compatriots James Blake and John Isner in his first two matches at the 2011 BNP Paribas Open, Roddick lost a tough fourth round match to Frenchman Richard Gasquet. He is coming off a hamstring injury in Australia, but anticipates a full return in time for the first serve in Indian Wells.

Only 19 years old, Ryan Harrison looks to be one of the most promising young Americans in the game. Last year was a breakthrough season for the Louisiana native as he reached back-to-back ATP semifinals in Atlanta and Los Angeles. One of the major storylines at the 2011 BNP Paribas Open was his Cinderella run to the fourth round, where he took Roger Federer to a first-set tiebreak before the three-time champion’s experience got the better of him. A firecracker on court, Harrison will never be accused of lack of passion and intensity and is a must see at the 2012 event.

Another of the young superstars on Tour is big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic. He is the youngest player in the top-25 at only 21 years old. Despite his age, he has already won two ATP titles and is a threat to anyone who is unlucky enough to face him. Taking out Mardy Fish en route to the 2011 BNP Paribas Open 3^rd round is a sign of things to come for Raonic, who will be seeded this year in Indian Wells.

Alexandr Dolgopolov is an up-and-coming European star. His unorthodox style of play makes him one of the most dangerous, yet entertaining players on court. While he lost to del Potro in the third round of singles, he did capture the 2011 BNP Paribas Open doubles title with Xavier Malisse in a victory over 2008 Olympic gold medalists Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka.

For a lesson on how to serve your opponents off the court, look no further than the 6’9” former Georgia Bulldog, John Isner. In 2010, the American hit a staggering 1,048 aces, more than 200 more than any other player on tour. Also known as the “Marathon Man,” he recorded the longest match in tennis history with a 70-68 fifth set win over Nicolas Mahut in the 2010 Wimbledon first round. Currently at a career-high ranking of No. 17 and looking to avenge an early third round loss at the 2011 BNP Paribas Open, Isner is one you have to see to believe at the 2012 event.

12 Women to Watch at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open

Defending BNP Paribas Open champion and World No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki won six titles in 2011, the most of any WTA player. Her BNP Paribas Open title was the crown jewel of her season, dropping only two sets en route to the championship. One of the best defensive players on tour, the Dane is always a tough opponent and she will fight hard to retain her title at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open. She should definitely be on every fan’s viewing schedule in Indian Wells.

The 2011 WTA Player of the Year and Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova can hit nearly anyone off the court. Her lefty forehand is one of the biggest weapons in the game and helped her capture the WTA Year End Championships. She could very well become the World No. 1 player this year, as she is extremely close to Wozniacki in ranking points. She lost in the second round in Indian Wells in 2011, but her game and confidence is at another level and she should make a run deep into the draw.

Victoria Azarenka set up a dream quarterfinal against Wozniacki at the 2011 BNP Paribas Open before an injury forced her to retire after three games. One of the hardest-hitting and passionate players on tour, the young Belarusian has big things ahead of her after entering the 2012 season with a career-high rankingof No. 3 in the world.

Three-time Grand Slam champion and former World No. 1 Maria Sharapova is back in the top 5 after a strong 2011 season that included reaching her first Grand Slam final (Wimbledon) since 2008. The Southern California star and Los Angeles resident is a former BNP Paribas Open champion (2006), and almost added a second crown last year before falling to Wozniacki in the semifinal.

In 2011, Li Na became the first Asian player to win a Grand Slam title, when she captured the French Open. She started off 2012 with a bang, winning her second consecutive Sydney title against an extremely competitive field. Last year when she won that title, she went on to reach the final of the Australian Open. At the 2011 BNP Paribas Open, Li lost in the second round to countrywoman and surprise quarterfinalist, Peng Shuai. A veteran with a strong game and fun personality, Li should be someone fans at the BNP Paribas Open seek out.

Another first-time Grand Slam champion was World No. 5 Sam Stosur. She became the first Australian woman to win a Grand Slam since 1980, when she captured the final major of the year, the US Open. The Aussie star boasts one of the best serves in the game, and also has deft touch at the net from her days as a World No. 1 doubles player. Last year she lost in the third round in Indian Wells to former World No. 1 Dinara Safina.

Agnieszka Radwanska has some of the best finesse of any WTA player. She finished the 2011 season on a hot streak, winning titles in Carlsbad, Tokyo and Beijing to earn a bid to the WTA Year End Championships. Last year at the BNP Paribas Open, she lost in a tight 3^rd-set tiebreaker to Azarenka, but has since improved her game and should be a serious contender at this year’s tournament.
Marion Bartoli started off 2011 on the right foot by taking World No. 1 Wozniacki to three sets in the BNP Paribas Open final. Playing with both a two-handed forehand and backhand, Bartoli has a unique playing style that can be difficult for opponents to match up against. Always entertaining to watch, the 2011 BNP Paribas Open runner-up is a must-see player at the 2012 event.

At only 19 years old, Christina McHale is the second-ranked American WTA player. Always a dangerous opponent, she holds wins over World No. 1 Wozniacki and 2011 BNP Paribas Open finalist Bartoli. Last year at the BNP Paribas Open, McHale defeated two-time Grand Slam champion Svetlana Kuznetsova to reach the 3^rd round. A resident of Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, McHale is at a career-high ranking of No. 42 and is a rapidly rising star.

10. A two-time BNP Paribas Open Champion (2003 and 2005), Kim Cljisters has won 42 career singles titles including four Grand Slams. She began 2011 by capturing the Australian Open title, and seemed poised to have another dominant year; however a series of unfortunate injuries, starting in Indian Wells, sidelined her the vast majority of the year. When healthy, the Belgian is still one of the best players in the world. She is likely to retire after this year so fans should make sure they catch her in action one last time.

11. Aside from Clijsters, Daniela Hantuchova is the only other female player in the 2012 BNP Paribas Open draw to have won the title more than once (2002 and 2007). Once ranked in the world’s top 5, Hantuchova is a former Australian Open semifinalist and owns four career WTA titles. This year has been good to her so far, as she recently reached the finals in Brisbane. Despite an early loss to former No. 1 Safina in the second round at the 2011 BNP Paribas Open, Hantuchova is always a threat in Indian Wells and the veteran will be looking to add yet another trophy to her case.

12. Another former champion in the 2012 BNP Paribas Open draw, Ana Ivanovic became the first Serbian male or female to win the BNP Paribas Open in 2008. Hours later, her compatriot Djokovic followed up with the men’s title. That win helped catapult her to victory at the French Open and the World. No. 1 ranking. Last year in the BNP Paribas Open, Ivanovic defeated countrywoman and defending champion Jelena Jankovic in the 4th round before losing a close match to Bartoli in the quarterfinals.

The women’s qualifying draw will take place March 5-6 and the men’s qualifying rounds will be held March 6-7. There will be 48 players in each draw vying for 12 spots in the main draws. Both days of jam-packed qualifying action are free for fans plus $10 parking. First-round main draw play will begin Wednesday, March 7 for the women and Thursday, March 8 for the men. The men’s and women’s singles championship finals will be held on Sunday, March 18.