Indian Wells entry list: Serena Williams out, Wawrinka and Kenin currently in

The Indian Wells entry list was revealed earlier this week. Stan Wawrinka and Sofia Kenin are among the notable participants who were–or perhaps still are–questionable to play.

Ricky Dimon

September 9, 2021

The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is generally one of the marquee events during the spring, planting itself — along with another Masters 1000 in Miami — in between the Australian Open and the clay-court swing.

This year, however, the players will take their talents to the desert in October. In 2020, the BNP Paribas Open was canceled altogether because of the Covid-19 pandemic; this time around it was postponed seven months in hopes that the global heath crisis — both locally and abroad — would subside.

Although Covid-19 does not appear to be leaving, progress with the vaccine and other safety protocols have brought tennis — and in most cases its fans — back. As such, you can successfully add Indian Wells to an ever-changing 2021 schedule.

Serena out along with Federer, Nadal, and Thiem

A positive sign that Indian Wells really is going to happen came on Thursday, when the entry lists were released.

Champions, newcomers, fan-favorites…oh my! 🌴

This fall we're celebrating it all. It's time to meet the #BNPPO21 player fields: https://t.co/FdoVWEcCyY pic.twitter.com/1FRSFFEGQ3
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) September 8, 2021

On the women’s side, Serena Williams is — as expected — absent from the entry list. The 23-time Grand Slam champion recently withdrew from the US Open due to a hamstring injury and says she does not know when she will play again. Naomi Osaka played in New York but also said that she doesn’t know when she will take the court again following her third-round loss to Leylah Fernandez. Despite that comment, Osaka is currently signed up for Indian Wells.

Sofia Kenin, who was forced out of the season’s final major because of a positive Covid-19 test, is slated to make an appearance in Indian Wells.

The men’s field was always going to be without Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Dominic Thiem after all three of them announced the end of their 2021 seasons prior to the US Open.

Of note on the men’s side is that Stan Wawrinka could make his comeback from a pair of 2021 foot surgeries. The 36-year-old Swiss has not played since early March in Doha.