Long Live Indian Wells?

Was that all just crazy talk, or did Indian Wells almost pack it all up and head to Shanghai? What, you didn’t hear about that? Indian Wells moving to China? Hard to believe, but it could have happened. And maybe it almost did.

Was this almost the new home of the tournament we know as Indian Wells?

That would have been shocking and really, really depressing. But before most people in tennis even heard about it, the crisis was (probably) solved. And it looks like the difference was the involvement of the USTA.

I think it was Joni Mitchell who first wrote "you don’t know what you got til it’s gone."And it would have been that way for Indian Wells. In my opinion, not enough people know what it’s like there and how good the event really is.

Indian Wells likes to think of itself as the Grand Slam of the West. That may be a public relations buzz phrase but it’s not that far off the truth either.

Close enough for osmosis.

I’ve said it before but the environment there is perfect to absorb the intensity, athleticism and stunning technical skills of the best players. And a big part…