Can Madison Keys win Indian Wells? "It’s never been her favorite surface," says former coach Lindsay Davenport

As the exclusive home of the BNP Paribas Open, Tennis Channel is sending its roster of talent to anchor, announce and report in Indian Wells, Calif. This includes three-time Grand Slam champion Lindsay Davenport, who revealed she favors Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff and Carlos Alcaraz in the desert.

“Swiatek has been very comfortable in Indian Wells for a lot of years, so for me she's the favorite going in,” Davenport said on a media call.

Although Swiatek comes in as the defending champion (she also won the BNP Paribas Open in 2022), Davenport also has her eyes on the highest-ranked American on either tour as a potential first-time winner.

“[Indian Wells] is a great surface for Gauff in terms of it bounces up higher, she gets a lot of bounce and height on her forehand,” she said. “She has that good kick serve, so I think it would be great conditions for her.”

“She didn't have a great trip in the Middle East, so I know she gets more motivated when that happens. I really expect her to kind of bounce back for the Sunshine Double.”

As for Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys, two Americans right behind Gauff in the rankings, Davenport believes the Miami Open is better suited for Pegula’s game, and admits that the court conditions in California are tougher for Keys to handle.

“Madison has played OK there, but it’s never been her favorite surface.” said her former coach. “She's got some early losses there, but I think it should help her. It's just tougher to hit through the court there. I know they're hunkered down and focused on how she can really make a good run at Roland Garros. She's a great mover on clay.”

Read More: There are now 10 American women in the Top 50

Where the men are concerned, there was one name on Davenport’s tongue: Carlitos.

“[Alcaraz] is the favorite in everyone's mind based on his past play—obviously without [Jannik] Sinner there as well,” she said. “The surface gives him more time to set up his forehands. It gives him more time to hit his drop shots. The ball is not skidding into him. He can still hit big enough to hit through the conditions, later in the day, at night sometimes when it gets a little heavier and a little cooler.”

Coming in as the two-time reigning champion, the Spaniard will lead one half of the draw in pursuit of a third BNP Paribas Open title.

“He is my favorite there to win the men,” Davenport confirmed. “Swiatek is my favorite on the women’s side, followed closely by Gauff.”

A Southern California native herself, Davenport returns to the first combined 1000 tournament of the year with Tennis Channel. Live coverage from Indian Wells, California, begins Wednesday, March 5, on TennisChannel.com