If you’re into top-level tennis, watching ranked tennis players, or just want to experience tennis in the desert…head to the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California.
This state-of-the-art facility opened in March of 2000.
We had the opportunity to see players participating in the Tie Break Tens, a first ever Eisenhower Cup event. This one-night event featured Nadal and several other ranked men, playing a fast-paced round robin of the first to ten-point break matches.
Not only did we see fantastic tennis, we were able to wander the grounds and watch other players warming up for their upcoming matches.
Since this is the second largest tennis stadium in the world, and a full-service year-round tennis club, you might expect it to have the amenities. It does. Stadium 1 seats 16,100, including 44 stadium suites, broadcast and media facilities, and an 8,000 square foot food commissary.
Stadium 2 has 8,000 seats and three fine dining restaurants.
Keep in mind, it gets in the desert. Especially in the summer. There are two 19,000 square-foot shade structures to help with that.
Having said all that…it’s impressive.
Better than that…we saw major tennis matches. Nadal, ranked #2 in the world, ended up losing in the final match. But, what a match it was.
Next year…we’ll go for more.