Andy Roddick has strong view on whether Indian Wells should become tennis’ fifth Grand Slam

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The first ATP Masters 1000 event of the season is officially underway in Indian Wells.

Indian Wells, which is host to both an ATP Masters tournament as well as a WTA 1000 competition, is nicknamed ‘Tennis Paradise’ due to its luxurious surroundings in California.

It has also been dubbed over the years as the ‘fifth Grand Slam’, as the event is perhaps one of the best-run and most prestigious on the tour.

While just a nickname as of now, many have entertained the idea of the Indian Wells Open actually joining the Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open in the Grand Slam series.

The idea is not an immensely popular one, and former world number one Andy Roddick is certainly not on board with it.

Andy Roddick rejects the idea of Indian Wells being a major event

Asked on an episode of ‘Served‘ if the tournament should become the fifth Grand Slam, Roddick responded: “No. What is wrong with Indian Wells being a 1000?

“There are four Slams. We are going to pigeon hole a slam into March? No. You can’t just make things Slams.

Should there be a fifth Grand Slam?

If so, which tournament would it be?

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“Then where does it end? They are going to put a billion dollars into the one that is going to be in the middle East.

“Is that a slam? We are going to have three Slams in three months? Where does it end?”

Tennis simply does not need a fifth Grand Slam

Change is a good thing, be it in tennis or life in general, but sometimes, things are just perfect the way they are, and the Grand Slams are exactly that.

The four major events of the year are the pillars of the sport, and by far the biggest drivers of fan engagement that tennis has.

Some will argue that adding a fifth major will only increase that engagement, but the likelihood is, it would devalue the prestige of the Grand Slam series.

Not to mention, if Indian Wells became a major, there would then be three hard-court Grand Slams compared to just one on grass and one on clay.

It’s an interesting prospect, and perhaps at some point down the line it will happen, but for now, the higher-ups should not even be entertaining the idea of a fifth Grand Slam.