Unofficially known as tennis' fifth Grand Slam, the world's best players are set to return to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden to compete for the BNP Paribas Open title.
Recognised as "Tournament of the Year" by the ATP and WTA for the fifth consecutive season, the Premier Mandatory tournament is the largest event on the tennis calendar outside the four majors.
Naomi Osaka will headline the top 75-ranked women's players in the singles draw and will be looking to defend a title for the first time in her career.
The defending champion defeated world no.14 Daria Kasatkina 6-3 62 to win her first professional title.
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Sporting News Australia has all the main talking points for the women's draw at the BNP Paribas Open.
WHICH AUSTRALIANS ARE PLAYING?
Five Australian women have qualified to compete for the Baccarat trophy with Ash Barty leading the charge.
The Queenslander will enter the tournament as twelfth seed and joins Ajla Tomljanovic, Daria Gavrilova, Sam Stosur and Priscilla Hon in the field.
20-year-old Hon earned her place in the main draw after winning her second qualifying match, defeating Veronika Kudermetova 6-4 6-2. Her first round match is yet to be determined.
Gavrilova, who joins Barty in the bottom half of the draw, will play a tough opener against Dayana Yastremska from Ukraine. The winner will meet 29th seed Mihaela Buzarnescu in the second round.
In the top half of the draw, Tomljanovic has drawn Frenchwoman Alize Cornet. The victor will have a chance to upset No.9 seed Aryna Sabalenka in the round of 64.
Stosur will open her Indian Wells campaign against American wildcard Madison Brengle, with the winner earning a shot at 11th seed Anastasija Sevastova.
ASHLEIGH BARTY
Playing her first WTA tournament since the Australian Open, Ash Barty will enter the BNP Paribas Open as the 12th seed.
Her rank has earned her a ticket straight to the second-round, where she will meet either Magdalena Rybarikova or Tatjana Maria.
The Australian joins Simona Halep, Sloane Stephens and Serena Williams in the bottom half of the draw.
Should Barty reach the round-of-16, she could face world No.2 Simona Halep in the quarter-finals. The winner of that match has the potential to meet Sloane Stephens or Serena Williams in the semi.
ROUND ONE: BYE
ROUND TWO: Magdalena Rybarikova or Tatjana Maria.
TOP 16 SEEDS
No.1 Naomi Osaka, No.2 Simona Halep, No.3 Petra Kvitova, No.4 Sloane Stephens, No.5 Karolina Pliskova, No.6 Elina Svitolina, No.7 Kiki Bertens, No.8 Angelique Kerber, No.9 Aryna Sabalenka, No.10 Serena Williams, No.11 Anastasija Sevastova, No.12 Ashleigh Barty, No.13 Caroline Wozniacki, No.14 Daria Kasatkina, No.15 Julia Goerges, No.16 Elise Mertens.
Bottom half:
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 4, 2019
Bertens-Hsieh
Muguruza-Serena
Mertens-Wang
Cibulkova-Stephens
Svitolina-Buzarnescu
Garcia-Barty
Kasatkina-Ostapenko
Sasnovich-Halep #BNPPO19
TOP HALF
Osaka, Kvitova, Pliskova, Kerber, Sabalenka, Sevastova, Wozniacki, Goerges.
BOTTOM HALF
Halep, Stephens, Svitolina, Bertens, Barty, Williams, Kasatkina, Mertens.
NO. 1 NAOMI OSAKA
World No.1 Naomi Osaka comes into the BNP Paribas Open looking to defend a title for the first time in her career.
Although the 21-year-old could face a rematch with Kristina Mladenovic in the second-round, the same player who defeated her at the Dubai Tennis Championships last month.
The world No.65 defeated Osaka 6-3 6-3 in the opening round, which was her first match since being crowned world No. 1 after winning the Australian Open.
The Japanese could meet Australian Open semifinalist Danielle Collins in the third round, while Dubai champion Belinda Bencic or Caroline Wozniacki lurk in the fourth.
ROUND ONE: BYE
ROUND TWO: Kristina Mladenovic or Saisai Zheng.
NO. 2 SIMONA HALEP
Given the tough draws that she has received so far this year, Simona Halep has a comparatively easier run to the Indian Wells final rounds.
The world No.2 will open the tournament against world No.50 Barbora Strycova or a qualifier. She won't face a Top 16 player until at least the fourth round, with last year's finalist Daria Kasatkina in the same quarter.
Should Halep fly through the early rounds, she could meet either sixth seed Elina Svitolina or Australia's Ash Barty in the quarterfinal.
ROUND ONE: BYE
ROUND TWO: Barbora Strycova or TBC Qualifier
NO. 3 PETRA KVITOVA
After playing two finals and taking out the Sydney International, no player has won more main draw matches than Petra Kvitova on tour this year.
The 28-year-old is set to face either Venus Williams or Andrea Petkovic in the second round, while Madison Keys, Aryna Sabalenka and Angelique Kerber loom in the quarter finals.
Should the Czech reach the semi finals for the first time at Indian Wells, she could potentially fight for revenge over world No.1 Naomi Osaka.
ROUND ONE: BYE
ROUND TWO: Venus Williams or Andrea Petkovic
NO. 4 SLOANE STEPHENS
The toughest quarter of the draw is led by fourth seed Sloane Stephens, who has the potential to meet Serena Williams, Victoria Azarenka or Kiki Bertens in the round-of-16.
The American won't face a seeded player until at least the third round, where she could potentially meet No.32 seed Dominika Cibulkova from Slovakia.
ROUND ONE: BYE
ROUND TWO: Sachia Vickery or TBC Qualifier
NO. 5 KAROLINA PLISKOVA
An Australian Open semi-final rematch could be on the cards at Indian Wells, with a potential clash between Karolina Pliskova and Naomi Osaka in the round-of-sixteen.
The Czech narrowly missed the final of the Grand Slam after she fell 6-2 4-6 6-4 to the eventual Australian Open champion.
To reach the semi final in California, the 26-year-old will have to potentially overcome 28th seed Donna Vekic, 21st seed Anett Kontaveit or 11th seed Anastasija Sevastova.
ROUND ONE: BYE
ROUND TWO: Ons Jabeur or TBC Qualifier
NO. 10 SERENA WILLIAMS
With a long-running controversial history with Indian Wells behind her, Serena Williams has been handed one of the toughest draws for the hard court tournament in California.
Not only could the 23-time major champion meet former World No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the second round, but she has also been drawn into the same quarter as No. 4 seed Sloane Stephens and No. 7 seed Kiki Bertens.
Should all go to plan, Williams could go on to face world No.2 Simona Halep or Australia's Ash Barty in the semi final.
Projected R16 @BNPPARIBASOPEN:
— WTA Insider (@WTA_insider) March 4, 2019
Osaka-Wozniacki
Sevastova-Pliskova
Kvitova-Goerges
Sabalenka-Kerber
—-
Bertens-Serena
Mertens-Stephens
Svitolina-Barty
Kasatkina-Halep
ROUND ONE: BYE
ROUND TWO: Vera Lapko or Victoria Azarenka
