The Tennis Traveler: How and where the pros prepared for Tennis Paradise at the BNP Paribas Open

✨It’s happening!✨

Get ready for two weeks in Tennis Paradise: The BNP Paribas Open is hosting the best of the best in tennis with exclusive coverage kicking off on Wednesday on Tennis Channel.

A mid-week start unique to the first combined ATP and WTA 1000-level event of the year meant that there was a three-day travel period for players to arrive in Palm Springs following two ATP 500s, a WTA 500, an ATP 250, and a WTA 250, and even those who enjoyed a longer tournament break and instead busied themselves with off-court engagements.

Here's how some of the game's biggest stars spent their time before heading to the California desert.

Read more: Daria Saville recounts travel nightmare from Mexico to Indian Wells

Over the weekend, Coco Gauff stunned at the Oscars, on the red carpet in Hollywood.

“I’m just here for the vibes,” world No. 3 said at the Academy Awards. Not only did she bring her mom as her plus one, but she also snagged a photo with Serena Williams at the exclusive Vanity Fair afterparty.

Get yourself a champion who can do both: Twenty-four hours earlier, the 23-time Grand Slam champion was spotted playing Candy Land with none other than Princess Lilibet, daughter of the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle.

And although Williams spent time with actual royalty over the weekend, tennis did crown its very own princes in the most recent issue of Vogue. Two of the most explosive left-handers on tour, Jack Draper and Ben Shelton, were deemed “Two Princes” in the fashion mag's March 2025 issue.

Named monarchs ahead of one of the most anticipated tournaments of the year? Not too shabby.

Two of the ATP's other top players prepared for Indian Wells with some actual tennis.

On Sunday, March 2, Carlos Alcaraz and Fances Tiafoe had a pre-Indian Wells exhibition match, “Battle of Legends,” which took place in Puerto Rico.

Full replay and Opening Ceremony available on Tennis Channel.

Before the “Battle of Legends,” Alcaraz also had commitments in Los Angeles with his tattoo artist. Known for tattooing his major achievements, the Spaniard was once again seen at Ganga Tattoos— but this time, as the artist.

Trading places with his award-winning tattoo artist, Alcaraz tattooed his tattooist in Los Angeles, as shared on Instagram.

Karolina Muchova prepared for Indian Wells like any other tournament, as shared on her social pages.

Still jet-lagged from competing in the Middle East, not to mention reaching the semifinals at the WTA 1000 Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, Muchova noted a cappuccino pit-stop at Everbloom Coffee, located just 12 minutes away from the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

“Probably going to come back tomorrow,” she said in her voiceover.

Read more: Where to “Coffee with the pros” in Indian Wells, California

We’re about to find out just how well the Oscars, royal status, tattooing and cappuccinos support players in pursuit of a 1000-level title.