[Volcana]

Scottsdale was a tournament that beneiftted heavily from scheduling. After Paris, Antwerp, Dubai, the two 'Super' Tier I's are coming. WIth change of surface. How to adjust? Well there was Scottsdale, same surface as IW, short plane flight away. SO Scottsdale always got kick-ass fields. That tournament is in EurAsia now. So players will face a choice of jet-lag and IW, or a more liesurely pace, and Miami/ It'll only be a few, but those few will choose to skip IW.

Given Lindsay's surgery and the antipathy of Venus, Serena, Jenn, IW could be without the top four ranked Americans next year. WHich COULD mean that Myskina, Dementieva, Petrova and Zvonareva could all be among the top eight seeds there.

 

[mishar]

I actually think it will help Indian Wells. Less likely that a player like Kim will fly to Doha than that she would play in Arizona, one hour flight from Palm Springs.
Clearly not having Venus and Serena there will always hurt the tournament, but Lindsay should be fully recovered by the surgery then (if she's expecting to come back by Australia), Jennifer played last year and seemed to have gotten over it, and of course there's Chanda, Amelie, possibly Monica.

 

[Keith]

I don't think it's going to be a bad thing. PLayers might just play an extra week in Europe, or go to Dubai. Jen, Amelie, and Justine all played Dubai and then went to IW.

IW might even have some better rested players.

 

[TheBoiledEgg]

Indian Wells will have a SUPER field no matter what.

it could even be played in Mars and the same players will turn up.

Only thing that is problematic is the Doha Surface: Rebound Ace.