Top five youngest women's singles champions at Indian Wells Open

Martina Hingis holds the record for the youngest Indian Wells Open winner.

The BNP Paribas Open is a premier outdoor hardcourt tournament held every March at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California. As a key event on the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 circuits, it is widely considered the sport’s unofficial “Fifth Grand Slam.”

Manuela Maleeva was the inaugural champion of the tournament. Martina Navratilova, Mary Joe Fernandez, Steffi Graf, Lindsay Davenport, Serena Williams, Kim Clijsters, Daniela Hantuchova, Maria Sharapova, Victoria Azarenka, and Iga Swiatek all tied at two, currently share the record for the most titles.

Also Read: Indian Wells Open: Full list of winners

Year after year, the event showcases spectacular performances, offering rising stars a platform to shine and make history. With that in mind, let’s explore some of the youngest female champions in Indian Wells Open history.

5. Bianca Andreescu – 18 years and 6 months

Every player has a dream year, and 2019 was Bianca Andreescu seemed unstoppable. The Canadian seemed set to be the next big thing in women’s tennis, as she won the 2019 Indian Wells Open, the Canadian Open, and then the 2019 US Open.

Bianca Andreescu reached a career-high ranking of No. 4, but she has struggled to maintain her form under pressure since then, drifting away from competitive action. Her most recent appearance at the US Open ended in a first-round loss to Jasmine Paolini.

Also Read: Top five youngest men’s singles champions at Indian Wells Open

4. Monica Seles – 18 years and 3 months

Monica Seles was 16 years and 189 days when she won the 1990 French Open, and just over a month after her 17th birthday, she won the 1991 Australian Open and followed it up with a stunning campaign in 1991, where she finished as a finalist.

There was no stopping the Yugoslavian in 1992 as she beat Conchita Martínez in straight sets to win her only title in California. Monica Seles’s career will always be a story of what could have been, as a tragic stabbing incident derailed her path to even greater success.

3. Kim Clijsters – 17 years and 9 months

A two-time Grand Slam and four-time Indian Wells champion, Kim Clijsters was a dominant hard-court player, having won thrice at the US Open. She defeated Lindsay Davenport in 2003 to capture her maiden title at the desert, and repeated her heroics in 2005.

The Belgian attained the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles in 2003. After winning the 2005 title, she retired to raise her family at just the age of 23.

Also Read: Top 10 richest tennis players of all-time

2. Serena Williams – 17 years and 5 months

American great Serena Williams has a torrid history at the BNP Paribas Open, having faced racial abuse and booing when her sister Venus Williams withdrew from the semi-final. As a result, the two sisters boycotted the competition for 14 years.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion won her first Indian Wells title in 1999 after defeating Steffi Graf. Serena’s second win came in 2001, which generated controversy and eventually a boycott.

1. Martina Hingis – 16 years and 6 months

Martina Hingis showed signs of greatness early in her career, winning a total of 25 major titles, including five Grand Slam singles titles, 13 women’s doubles titles, and seven mixed doubles titles.

Also Read: Players with most wins in WTA 1000 events

‘Miss Swiss’ won the first of her two Indian Wells titles in 1997, beating Lindsay Davenport to become the youngest ever champion at the desert. Hingis also holds the record for being the youngest women’s singles winner at the Australian Open.

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