Former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka gets wild card for BNP Paribas Open
INDIAN WELLS, Calif., January 31 , 2018 – Two-time BNP Paribas Open Champion Victoria Azarenka was awarded a wildcard into the main draw of this year’s tournament, to be held March 5 -18 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Azarenka , who won the title in Indian Wells in 2012 and 2016, will return to the desert this year after missing the 2017 event following the birth of her son. The former World No.1 will be making her eleventh appearance at the tournament.
“I have always loved playing at Indian Wells, and I could not be more thrilled to be returning to the desert this March to compete for my third event title,” Azarenka said. “Having won here twice, this tournament holds a special place in my heart and I look forward to playing in front of some of the best tennis fans in the world at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in just a few weeks.”
“We couldn’t be more excited that two-time champion and fan favorite Victoria Azarenka will be returning to Indian Wells this year,” said Tournament Director Tommy Haas. “We look forward to welcoming her back to the desert as she eyes a record third title at the BNP Paribas Open. The addition of Azarenka to an incredibly deep player field on the women’s side promises to provide some exceptional tennis action for our fans.”
An additional five men’s and seven women’s main draw wildcards will be granted in the coming weeks, including the top two male and female finishers in the inaugural Oracle Challenger Series.
This year’s BNP Paribas Open will highlight the world-class tennis players that participate in the event woven into the natural beauty of the desert landscape; as well as the physical attributes of the Tennis Garden – one of the most picturesque venues in all of sports. Ahead of the 2018 event, the site is undergoing a full-scale beautification project that emphasize the lush, green environment that make the Tennis Garden truly feel like a garden blooming to life. For more information and to purchase tickets to the BNP Paribas Open, visit www.bnpparibasopen.com or call the Indian Wells Tennis Garden Box Office at 800-999-1585.
About the BNP Paribas Open
The BNP Paribas Open is the largest ATP World Tour and WTA combined two-week event in the world, and is held annually at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The tournament offers more than $14 million in prize money, and is the only event to provide the Hawkeye line challenge system on all match courts, including qualifying rounds. For more information, visit www.bnpparibasopen.com .
About BNP Paribas
BNP Paribas is a leading bank in Europe with an international reach. It has a presence in 75 countries, with more than 189,000 employees, including more than 146,000 in Europe. The Group has key positions in its three main activities: Domestic Markets and International Financial Services (whose retail banking networks and financial services are covered by Retail Banking & Services) and Corporate & Institutional Banking, which serves two client franchises: corporate clients and institutional investors. The Group helps all its clients (individuals, community associations, entrepreneurs, SMEs, corporate and institutional clients) to realize their projects through solutions spanning financing, investment, savings and protection insurance. In Europe, the Group has four domestic markets (Belgium, France, Italy and Luxembourg) and BNP Paribas Personal Finance is the leader in consumer lending. BNP Paribas is rolling out its integrated retail banking model in Mediterranean countries, in Turkey, in Eastern Europe and a large network in the western part of the United States. In its Corporate & Institutional Banking and International Financial Services activities, BNP Paribas also enjoys top positions in Europe, a strong presence in the Americas as well as a solid and fast-growing business in Asia-Pacific.
