The Indian Wells tennis tournament has announced a significant boost in its prize money, reaching a total of $19 million

The Indian Wells tournament, scheduled for March, has announced a total prize money pool of $19 million, making it the most lucrative combined WTA and ATP Masters 1000 event. This represents an increase of over $1.4 million compared to the previous year, with the majority of the additional funds allocated to singles players participating in qualifying through the second round.

Steve Christian, CEO of the BNP Paribas Open, the tournament’s official title, emphasized their commitment to enhancing the overall experience for both players and fans. He stated, “Each year, we evaluate every aspect of our event – from prize money to scheduling to amenities and facilities – to ensure a top-tier experience for players and fans. This year, we are proud to be dedicating record prize money, and are highly focused on compensating all of the players competing in the BNP Paribas Open.”

In addition to the increased prize money, the tournament is making changes to its schedule. On March 14, the event will feature its first-ever all quarter-final day, where all eight quarter-final matches will take place. The Indian Wells tournament, held in the Southern California desert near Palm Springs, is owned by billionaire Larry Ellison, who also owns the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

Last month, the tournament received recognition from players as the ATP Masters and WTA 1000 Tournament of the Year for an unprecedented ninth consecutive time. In 2023, it attracted over 450,000 fans. The defending champions for this year’s tournament, which will run from March 6-17, are Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina.