Photos: Kirk Stenvall

Beneath a backdrop of snow-capped mountains and sunny, blue skies, the Indian Wells tournament, now known as the BNP Paribas Open, celebrates its 35^th anniversary with a star studded line-up of top players and special guests, guaranteeing another ten days of thrilling action and record-setting attendance.

As Carlos Moya marked his return to the tour after an injury lay-off with a win in the main stadium, some fans flocked to the practice courts “oohing” and “aahing” over the shot-making between Andy Murray and Viktor Troicki.  Next door, Elena Dementieva fired forehands across the net to her hitting partner while her mother hovered along the back wall murmuring encouragement and advice.  Countrymen Juan Carlos Ferrero and David Ferrer warmed up their serves together while Bobby Reynolds grinned across the net at Nicolas Almagro after winning a point off a drop shot during a practice set.

Novak Djokovic returns to the States full of confidence after his country’s Davis Cup win.   A finalist here in 2007 and Champion in 2008, the Serbian remarked in his news conference today that, “This surface has been suitable to my style of game.  It’s always a pleasure because I know I’ve played good tennis [here] in past years.”