WTA BNP Paribas Open 2025: Our Predictions for the Women's Tournament
by Tyler Doty | by Tyler Doty
Swiatek Is Back, Along With Sabalenka
Poland’s Iga Swiatek will once again be competing this year as the #2 seed, facing the winner of the first-round matchup between France’s Caroline Garcia and America’s Bernarda Pera. However, Swiatek may struggle to win a third title at this event. Despite being a three-time defending champion in Doha, she failed to secure a fourth consecutive title there, losing in the semifinals to Jelena Ostapenko just days ago. That tough defeat could slightly shake her confidence heading into the tournament and should be kept in mind for your BNP Paribas Open Predictions.
The #1 seed, as expected, is the world #1, Aryna Sabalenka, though she may not be a real contender for the title. Since her heartbreaking loss to Madison Keys in the Australian Open final in January, the Belarusian has struggled to regain her form. She was eliminated in the first round in Doha by Ekaterina Alexandrova and then failed to advance past the second round in Dubai, losing to Clara Tauson (ranked #21) in straight sets. The courts in Indian Wells haven’t been favorable to her either—last year, she was knocked out in the Round of 16 by Emma Navarro after finishing as the tournament’s runner-up in 2023.
Madison Keys Arrives in Top Form
One player to watch in this WTA tournament is American Madison Keys, who could make a strong impression in tennis betting predictions. After being eliminated in the third round of both the US Open and the Beijing tournament late last season, the offseason break appears to have worked wonders for the 30-year-old, as she has been virtually unstoppable this year.
Keys reached the quarterfinals in Auckland, where she suffered her only loss of the season so far—against Clara Tauson (ranked #21). Since then, the American has won 12 consecutive matches, including victories over some of the best players this season: Beatriz Haddad Maia, Jelena Ostapenko, Daria Kasatkina, Liudmila Samsonova, and Jessica Pegula, ultimately securing the Adelaide title. Fresh off that triumph, the top-5 player went on to win the first Grand Slam of her career, claiming the Australian Open title by defeating two-time defending champion Aryna Sabalenka. She also took down Iga Swiatek in the semifinals. Now, Keys must prove that her incredible start to the season is no fluke by continuing her winning streak in Indian Wells.
Is Coco Gauff Ready for the Title?
Another American contender who could be a serious threat for the title is Cori Gauff. The world #3 ended last season by winning the WTA Finals, defeating both Aryna Sabalenka and Qinwen Zheng. She kicked off 2025 by leading the U.S. to victory in the United Cup against Iga Swiatek’s Polish team. However, these early successes may have taken a toll on her form. Gauff was stopped in the Australian Open quarterfinals by Spain’s Paula Badosa—a disappointing result considering she had reached the semifinals of the tournament in 2024.
She then suffered first-round exits in both Doha (against Marta Kostyuk) and Dubai (against fellow American McCartney Kessler). With back-to-back losses, Gauff has yet to regain her winning momentum and must step up in Indian Wells to prove she is still in top form. Playing in front of a home crowd could give her the boost she needs to bounce back.
Mirra Andreeva Is in Great Shape
Seventeen-year-old Russian sensation Mirra Andreeva has been making waves early this season. She reached the semifinals in Brisbane and advanced to the Round of 16 at the Australian Open, with both of her runs ending in losses to world #1 Aryna Sabalenka. These results show that only the best player in the world has been able to stop her so far.
Andreeva didn’t stop there—she went on a six-match winning streak in Dubai at the end of February, defeating world #2 Iga Swiatek in straight sets, then taking down world # 7 Elena Rybakina before clinching the title with another straight-set win over Clara Tauson. This incredible run makes her a strong contender in Indian Wells, where she enters the tournament as the #9 seed.
Among all these top players, Madison Keys stands out as the strongest title contender. As the reigning Australian Open champion, she made a strong statement by ending Aryna Sabalenka’s Grand Slam winning streak.
Our Prediction for the WTA Indian Wells Winner: Madison Keys wins the tournament, with odds of +1300 at FanDuel!
