With the Sunshine Swing fast approaching, several former professionals have named the WTA and ATP players they expect to thrive. Established stars such as Coco Gauff and Iga Świątek feature prominently among the favorites, while American rising talent Emma Navarro is tipped to challenge the tour’s biggest names.
Coco Gauff, Iga Świątek, and Emma Navarro Emerge As Leading Picks of Former Pros Ahead of Indian Wells
Gauff has yet to assert her trademark dominance in the 2026 season, with the upcoming WTA 1000 events at Indian Wells Masters and Miami Open presenting a significant opportunity to shift momentum.
She opened her campaign with a quarterfinal run at the Australian Open, followed by a disappointing second-round exit at the Qatar Open. The American improved her graph in Dubai, finishing as a semifinalist, but she has yet to win a title.
Iga Świątek, meanwhile, has competed sparingly, missing much of the Middle Eastern swing after a quarterfinal exit at the Australian Open. The World No. 2 most recently played at the Doha WTA 1000, where she fell in the quarterfinals to Maria Sakkari. She has since been out of action due to a schedule change.
Recently, Tennis Channel’s panel of analysts assessed the field and revealed their must-watch picks ahead of the Sunshine Swing. Former World No. 5 Eugenie Bouchard believes Coco Gauff can carry the momentum from her semifinal run in Dubai into a strong campaign at the Indian Wells Masters.
“Coco has had an underwhelming start to the year by her standards, but started to pick up her form in Dubai, where she reached the semifinals. The conditions in Indian Wells should really suit her game,” she said.
Former American professional Sam Querrey said the field is strong overall, but backed Iga Świątek to make a deep run, especially in windy or night conditions, where he believes she holds a clear edge.
“This is a tough one because pretty much every top player on the men’s and women’s side has had a decent start to the year. I’ll take Swiatek to make a big run and potentially win it, especially if she plays a handful of night matches or matches in the wind. I think she’s dangerous in those conditions,” he said.
On the other hand, Emma Navarro has featured in more tournaments than the other two, but has struggled to make deep runs. Her best result came at the Adelaide International, where she reached the quarterfinals. She exited in the opening round in Auckland and Melbourne, followed by second-round finishes in Abu Dhabi, Doha, Dubai, and Mérida.
Despite her recent struggles, Emma Navarro has been backed to thrive at the Indian Wells Masters by former American pro and coach Paul Annacone, who believes a return to home soil could reignite her momentum.
“I’m look for Emma to turn things around at a tournament where she made her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal in 2024. She’s been struggling late, but she’s far too good a player not to have more consistent results and I think being back in the States will help lift her sails,” he said during the conversation.
In the men’s draw, Tennis Channel host Brett Haber backed Frances Tiafoe to deliver a strong showing at the Indian Wells Masters, pointing to his recent partnership with coach Mark Kovacs as a potential turning point.
Meanwhile, four-time ATP Tour doubles champion Nicholas Monroe gave the edge to defending champion Jack Draper, citing the Brit’s drive to reassert himself following his return from injury
