'Wildcards' Announced for BNP Paribas

BNP Paribas Open officials Wednesday announced the tennis players who will play as wildcards in the main draws.

Former top-five players David Nalbandian, Tommy Robredo, James Blake and Kimiko Date-Krumm; Americans Tim Smyczek, Steve Johnson, Madison Keys, Bethanie Mattek-Sands, Maria Sanchez, Melanie Oudin and Taylor Townsend; and Israel's Shahar Peer and France's Kristina Mladenovic were given wildcard berths.

The tournament runs March 4-17 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Women's qualifying starts March 4, and men's qualifying begins March 5.

"This year's main draw wildcards span from seasoned veterans, to rising American and international stars to those returning from injury," tournament director Steve Simon said."Awarding wildcards ... adds to the allure of early- round matches for fans and provide the potential for these deserving athletes to break through and make a move up their respective tour's rankings."

Former No. 3-ranked Nalbandian has won 11 Association of Tennis Professionals world tour titles and reached the BNP quarterfinals last year. Former No. 5 ranked Robredo has won 10 career titles and reached five Grand Slam quarterfinals. Blake, an American and former No. 4, also has 10 career titles and defeated then-World No. 2 Rafael Nadal to reach the 2006 BNP finals. Date-Krumm, also a former No. 4, has eight career singles titles and four doubles titles.

For tickets or more information, go to www.bnpparibasopen.com or call (760) 200-8000.

—City News Service.