The 5 ATP players with the most Indian Wells titles, ft. Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal

Ewan West 06 Mar 2024 12:30 PM

Novak Djokovic with the Indian Wells trophy in 2016

The 2024 edition of the Indian Wells Open will mark the 50-year anniversary since the men’s tournament was first held in 1974, with Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer all featuring on an illustrious list of champions.

While Indian Wells, California has been home to the event since 1987, it was held in Tucson, Arizona in 1974-75, before moving to Rancho Mirage, California from 1976-80 and La Quinta, California between 1981-86.

The ATP Masters 1000 tournament has been won by 29 different players, nine of which have triumphed on multiple occasions. Ahead of the 2024 event, we look at the five players who have claimed three or more Indian Wells titles.

Jimmy Connors – three titles (1976, 1981, 1984)

Jimmy Connors secured the first of his three titles at the tournament in 1976 when he defeated fellow American Roscoe Tanner 6–4, 6–4 in the final in the first edition of the tournament staged at Rancho Mirage.

Five years later, the eight-time Grand Slam champion won the event again at a new venue, La Quinta, when he overcame his rival Ivan Lendl 6–3, 7–6(7–5) in the title match.

The American lifted his third and final trophy in 1984 with a 6–2, 6–7(7–9), 6–3 final triumph against Yannick Noah, meaning all of his titles came before the event moved to Indian Wells.

Michael Chang – three titles (1992, 1996, 1997)

Michael Chang won the title in Indian Wells for the first time in 1992 when he beat Andrei Chesnokov 6–3, 6–4, 7–5 in the final — after the event had become part of the Masters 1000 series (then known as the Championship Series) in 1990.

The 1989 French Open winner next prevailed in the Californian desert four years later with a 7–5, 6–1, 6–1 triumph over Paul Haarhuis in the championship match.

In 1997, the American defended his Indian Wells title after downing Bohdan Ulihrach 4–6, 6–3, 6–4, 6–3 in the final to claim his last victory at the tournament and tie the record, which was then held by Connors.

Rafael Nadal – three titles (2007, 2009, 2013)

Rafael Nadal claimed the first of his three titles at the Indian Wells Masters in 2007, when he defeated his future great rival, Novak Djokovic, 6–2, 7–5 in the final.

The 22-time major champion won the ATP Masters 1000 tournament for the second time two years later after he crushed Andy Murray 6–1, 6–2 in the championship match.

The Spaniard then secured his third and most recent Indian Wells trophy in 2013 with a 4–6, 6–3, 6–4 triumph over Juan Martin Del Potro in the title match. Nadal, 37, will face Milos Raonic in the first round of the 2024 edition of the event in what could be his final appearance.

Roger Federer – five titles (2004, 2005, 2006, 2012, 2017)

Roger Federer won his maiden Indian Wells title in 2004 with a 6–3, 6–3 final victory over Tim Henman, before defending his crown after a 6–2, 6–4, 6–4 defeat of Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion then became the first player to win three consecutive titles at the Masters 1000 event in 2006, when he saw off James Blake 7–5, 6–3, 6–0 in the final.

The Swiss added a fourth triumph in Indian Wells in 2012 with a 7–6(9–7), 6–3 title match win against John Isner. Federer prevailed in the Californian desert for the last time in 2017 after overcoming Stan Wawrinka 6–4, 7–5 in the title match – a victory that saw him equal Djokovic’s record of five titles.

Novak Djokovic – five titles (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016)

Novak Djokovic secured the first of his five Indian Wells Open crowns in 2008, when he defeated Mardy Fish 6–2, 5–7, 6–3 in the title match. Three years later, the 24-time major winner claimed his second trophy at the Masters 1000 tournament with a 4–6, 6–3, 6–2 final victory over Nadal.

In 2014 and 2015, Djokovic downed his other great rival, Federer, to win his third and fourth Indian Wells titles with 3–6, 6–3, 7–6(7–3) and 6–3, 6–7(5–7), 6–2 triumphs in the respective finals.

The Serbian earned his fifth and most recent title at the tournament in 2016, with a 6–2, 6–0 dismantling of Milos Raonic in the championship match. The 36-year-old can move clear of Federer to become the sole title record-holder if he wins the event for a sixth time in 2024.