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

The BNP Paribas Open is a prestigious outdoor hardcourt tournament that takes place annually in March at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California. Recognized as a key event within the ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 circuits, it is often referred to as the sport's unofficial "Fifth Grand Slam."

Manuela Maleeva was the first champion of the tournament. Currently, 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.

Year after year, the event showcases spectacular performances, providing emerging talents with an opportunity to excel and create a legacy. 

In this article, 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 for Bianca Andreescu, that year was 2019, during which she appeared invincible. The Canadian emerged as a promising star in women's tennis, clinching victories at the 2019 Indian Wells Open, the Canadian Open, and ultimately the 2019 US Open.

Bianca Andreescu reached a career-high ranking of No. 4, however, she has faced challenges in sustaining her performance under pressure since that time, leading to a decline in her competitive action. Her latest outing at the US Open resulted in a first-round defeat against Jasmine Paolini.

4. Monica Seles – 18 years and 3 months

Monica Seles was 16 years and 189 days old when she won the 1990 French Open, and just over a month after her 17th birthday, she won the 1991 Australian Open and continued her impressive performance throughout 1991, ultimately reaching the finals.

In 1992, the Yugoslavian was unstoppable, defeating Conchita Martínez in straight sets to secure her sole title in California. Monica Seles's career remains a narrative of unrealized potential, as a tragic stabbing incident interrupted her journey toward even greater achievements.

3. Kim Clijsters – 17 years and 9 months

Kim Clijsters, a two-time Grand Slam champion and four-time winner at Indian Wells, was a dominant competitor on hard courts, winning three titles at the US Open. She claimed her first title in the desert by overcoming Lindsay Davenport in 2003 and repeated her heroics in 2005.

The Belgian attained the No. 1 position in both singles and doubles in 2003. Following her victory in 2005, she decided to retire at the young age of 23 to focus on raising her family.

2. Serena Williams – 17 years and 5 months

American tennis legend Serena Williams has experienced a tumultuous history at the BNP Paribas Open, marked by instances of racial abuse and public disapproval following her sister Venus Williams' withdrawal 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 by overcoming Steffi Graf. Her second win came in 2001, a win that sparked controversy and ultimately led to 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.

‘Miss Swiss’ won her first Indian Wells title in 1997, defeating Lindsay Davenport to become the youngest ever champion at the desert. Hingis also holds the record for the youngest female singles champion at the Australian Open.

Cover Credits - WTA