Indian Wells has to address a glaring problem that has become very evident this year.
The tournament has already made an issue of their own this year, with Indian Wells being criticised for their ticketing.
Both the distribution and prices of tickets have contributed to some of the empty seats on the bigger courts at Indian Wells this year, but that is not the only problem.
The temperatures at Indian Wells become a lot colder at night, and this is something that the tournament need to address if they are to make the event as good as it could be.
Indian Wells should consider getting rid of night sessions
Indian Wells lost the award for best Masters 1000 tournament for the first time since 2013 last year, and they will be desperate to claim it back from the Cincinnati Open.
One of the biggest things that makes a tennis tournament as good as it can be is a packed crowd for the best matches.
Those best matches are commonly placed in the night session, but that does not work as well at Indian Wells.
Should there be a fifth Grand Slam?
If so, which tournament would it be?
The conditions at Indian Wells have become renowned for changing drastically, and the temperature drops significantly in the evening, where the night sessions take place.
Not only can this impact the quality of tennis, but it also contributes to the numbers in the crowds for these matches.
Tennis fans who can afford to buy tickets for the biggest courts do not have the same desire to be on these courts in these uncomfortable temperatures, and Indian Wells need to find a solution to this.
This should either be by getting rid of the night session completely, or enabling a number of fans with ground passes to access the stadium courts, whether that be for a smaller fee or completely free of charge.
If Indian Wells really want to elevate their tournament once again, they should prioritise the atmosphere of their biggest matches over the money they are making.
How would this impact Alexandra Eala?
The night sessions at Indian Wells have impacted a number of players, including Alexandra Eala, who is one of the most popular players in tennis right now.
Eala’s first ever match was scheduled at night on Stadium 3, which is accessible for grounds pass holders.
With grounds pass holders enabled to enter the court, Eala still had a strong support even though her match against Dayana Yastremska went past midnight.
Alexandra Eala will finish 2026 ranked — in the world
Fill in the blanks!
While the crowd was not as much of an issue for Eala at Indian Wells, the courts and balls made things tougher for the Filipina.
Colder conditions slow down the courts and make the balls feel heavier, which is something Eala commented on after the match.
Eala has struggled on clay in her career so far and has produced her best result on faster hard courts, so she would likely benefit from playing in the day at Indian Wells rather than at night.
Despite this, Eala has been scheduled in the night session once again for her next match against Coco Gauff.
This match is on Stadium 1, so not only will the conditions not be in Eala’s favour, but she may also not have the same support as usual due to grounds pass holders being unable to access the court.
Receive exclusive tennis news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
