Anisimova, Andreescu among Indian Wells wild cards to watch

With only 96 spots in the main draw—and pretty much every player in the world wanting one of them—the BNP Paribas Open is among the hardest tournaments to get into.

Fortunately for some, the main-draw wild cards awarded this year made entry easier for 13 players, particularly the ones who have been having an unexpectedly good year.

While 10 of them went to Americans, Canadian 18-year-olds Bianca Andreescu and Felix Auger-Aliassime also were recognized, and justifiably so. Auger-Aliassime, in just the last two weeks, brought his ranking from No. 104 to No. 58, on the back of making his first ATP final, in Rio de Janeiro, followed immediately by a quarterfinal.

Americans Donald Young, Jessica Pegula and Lauren Davis each got into the main draw based on their results from the Oracle Challenger Series. The other Americans to get wild cards are Taylor Townsend, Madison Brengle, Jennifer Brady, Jared Donaldson and Sachia Vickery.

Andreescu, meanwhile, has won 21 of the 24 total matches she's played in 2019. She's gone from No. 107 to No. 60 so far this year.

At the Australian Open, American Amanda Anisimova defeated two seeds to reach the round of 16, stunning popular pick to win the tournament Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets along the way. At only 17 years old, she's now ranked 67th.

Wild card Reilly Opelka defeated Top-10 player John Isner twice this year, the second time en route to his first ATP title, at the New York Open. Despite having recently been as low as No. 102, he's now the world No. 59.

Another spot went to Serbia's Laslo Djere, who, at 23, picked up his first ATP title, in Rio in February. He then backed it up with a Sao Paulo semi. His ranking has gone all the way up to No. 32.

Americans Donald Young, Jessica Pegula and Lauren Davis each got into the main draw based on their results from the Oracle Challenger Series. The other Americans to get wild cards are Taylor Townsend, Madison Brengle, Jennifer Brady, Jared Donaldson and Sachia Vickery.

Andreescu, Anisimova, Davis, Brady and Vickery all start their Indian Wells campaigns on Wednesday, versus Irina-Camelia Begu, Aleksandra Krunic, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Nao Hibino and Stefanie Voegele, respectively.

Andreescu, Anisimova, Davis, Brady and Vickery all start their Indian Wells campaigns on Wednesday, versus Irina-Camelia Begu, Aleksandra Krunic, Anna Karolina Schmiedlova, Nao Hibino and Stefanie Voegele, respectively.