The tents are up, bleachers are ready for tennis greats to duke it out in the first and only ATP WTA world tour combined event to offer its singles champions $1 million dollars in prize money

 

"coming in you'd have to say Novak is the favorite, he's undefeated coming in this year as well, he's really gotten off to a good start but i can tell you that roger and Rafa and the rest of the team would like a piece of him very much, we'll see what happens here, he's got his hands full," said tournament director Steve Simon.

 

Simon expecting more than 350,000 people this year, fans already showing up at the tennis garden excited for a chance to see their favorite players on the court

 

"Oh i just love to watch good tennis and these people are very accomplished and its just a pleasure to come out and watch them," said tennis fan David Morris.

 

With a million dollars up for grabs the very best of the best are right here in Indian Wells

 

Number 9 in the world Vera Zvonareva, practicing in the sunshine just feet away from new comers Jessica Pegula and Madison Keys, both American players are finalists in the pre-qualifying tournamnet. The winner gets a wildcard into the BNP Paribas open qualifying draw.

 

"So you know it will be, we'll get to play against madison and we have kind of similar games, it will be tough but we'll get out there and fight and have fun," said player Jessica Pegula.

 

"It would mean everything, especially earning your way in it would just make me feel really good about myself," said player Madison Keys.

 

Two up and comers to watch alongside crowd favorites Maria Sharapova, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic.