Indian Wells and Miami Open wildcards are distributed to former Grand Slam champions

The Sunshine Double is upon us. That means a month of great United States tennis beginning in Indian Wells and moving to Miami. In typical fashion, players from the tournament's host country get many of the wildcards.

To be clear, wildcards in any tournament are about attracting big names to the draw. Though it is normally not the case at Indian Wells or Miami, ticket sales to events can be boosted by adding legendary players to the draw via wildcards.

Venus Williams headlines the American list of players receiving wildcards. She has received a wildcard for both Indian Wells and Miami. Williams, 43, has not played competitive tennis yet in 2024 but is a legend of the game. Other American women receiving Indian Wells wildcards include Amanda Anisimova, McCartney Kessler, and Ashlyn Krueger.

Other Grand Slam champions receiving wild cards for Indian Wells and Miami

In addition to Williams, Grand Slam champions Caroline Wozniacki and Emma Raducanu received wildcards for both tournaments. Wozniacki is continuing her comeback to tennis after spending years away having children and working on Tennis Channel. Raducanu is coming back from three surgeries in 2023.

Former World No. 1 Karolina Pliskova and Spanish tennis player Paula Badosa also have Indian Wells wildcards. Pliskova is finding her form and playing like she did five years ago. Badosa continues her comeback from a debilitating back injury that kept her off the court for the majority of 2023.

Indian Wells is considered the unofficial fifth major on the WTA and ATP tennis circuit. Defending champions Elena Rybakina and Carlos Alcaraz will attempt to win back-to-back titles in packed fields on both the women's and men's sides with Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal in the mix. The official draws will be released on March 4 with early round action beginning on March 6. The women's and men's singles finals are on March 17. The Miami Open main draw play begins March 20.

Read more on Lob and Smash