The Indian Wells Open has just got underway in California, and tournament director Tommy Haas will hope for an enthralling display this time around after the event’s 10-year award streak came to an end in 2025.
From 2014 to 2024, Indian Wells was the winner of the annual ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year award, voted by the players.
It ended the Shanghai Masters’ five-year streak and has since gone on a ten-year streak of its own, excluding 2020, when no awards were handed out due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Last year, however, the Cincinnati Open, which underwent a $260 million transformation, snatched the crown away from ‘Tennis Paradise’.
Responding to Cincinnati’s triumph, Haas spoke candidly about why he thinks Indian Wells missed out last year.
Tommy Haas comments on 10-year award streak ending in 2025
In an interview with Tennis TV, Haas said: “Actually, I think we had it [the award] 10 years in a row or something.
“I think in most of our eyes and in most of the players eyes, it is considered the fifth slam, and certainly probably if there wasn’t so many difficulties in the world of tennis sometimes, it probably would be.
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“But overall, yeah, you know, we always try to raise the bar, and I think that the other tournaments have felt the need to do something different.
“With Mr. Navarro and his team over in Cincinnati, you know, they raised the bar, and they looked at this tournament many, many times, and have been here and looked at all the different little things that we have been doing, and, you know, that’s how we grow, that’s how we support each other in a way.
“I think it’s a nice thing for them, and rightfully so. I wasn’t there myself to see it, but did hear a lot about it, and, you know, it gives us the initiative to, you know, maybe try to raise the bar again ourselves as well, as we always do, and yeah, it’s good to have that competition out there, that’s for sure.”
The best Masters, ATP 500 and ATP 250 tournaments in 2025
The Cincinnati Open was the winner of one of three ATP tournament awards that were handed out in 2025.
While the second Masters 1000 event of the North American hard court swing was the player-favourite in its category, stars also voted for the best ATP 500 and 250 competitions.
The Qatar Open was voted the best ATP 500 tournament on the tour, denying the Queen’s Club Championships the award for the fourth year in a row.
Meanwhile, the Swedish Open in Bastad won the best ATP 250 for a record-extending 13th time.
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