The 2024 Eisenhower Cup Presented by Masimo, a Tie Break Tens event, was played on Tuesday night with 8 teams vying for honours in the fast-paced, knockout-style single elimination competition in front of a packed house on Stadium 2.
I’m actually on a pretty good mixed doubles run now after the US Open. Whenever you get to play with somebody who hardly misses a ball the whole time we’re out here, it’s pretty cool, and makes things a lot more fun. I think we enjoyed the playing, but we also got along well, and that makes things easier. Ben Shelton
The talented field of superstars rang in the first day of main draw action in Indian Wells with an exciting exhibition event, and was former NCAA Champions Emma Navarro and Ben Shelton, who were the last team standing and lifted the crown.
The latest Eisenhower Cup champions earned the $200,000 in prize money, while all ticket sales and proceeds from the exhibition will be donated to The Champions Volunteer Foundation, the official non-profit arm of the BNP Paribas Open that supports local charities and organisations throughout the Coachella Valley.
Prior to 2024, the Eisenhower Cup has raised more than $500,000 in total for local charities since it debuted in 2018, and has blossomed into a fan-favourite Indian Wells tradition, taking place on the eve before main draw play begins at the BNP Paribas Open each year.
Sabalenka & Fritz took the title last year in the first-ever mixed doubles Eisenhower Cup, defeating Swiatek & Hurkacz in the final in front of an energetic crowd of nearly 5,000 fans.
Tuesday evening marked the 5th edition of The Eisenhower Cup, and the second consecutive year that the event has featured a mixed doubles format, consisting of first to 10-point tiebreak matches.
It is one of the fun events held at the first combined ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 tournament of the year, and featured an 8-team single elimination draw, with a total of 7 matches being held over the course of the evening.
World No 1 Swiatek and No 2 Sabalenka teamed up with ATP Top 10 stars Hurkacz and Fritz, off-court couple Badosa & Tsitsipas shared the same side of the net, and Wozniacki made her much-anticipated return to the desert alongside her countryman Rune.
Originally slated to include defending Indian Wells champion Elena Rybakina, partnering Rublev, and World No 5 Jessica Pegula with Paul, there were two last-minute line-up changes as both withdrew, and they were replaced by Sakkari and Stephens.
The mixed doubles teams lined up ahead of the 7-match Tie Break Tens charity event on Tuesday night at Indian Wells
bnpparibasopen.com
The Teams
- World No. 1, 2022 BNP Paribas Open Champion Iga Swiatek + World No. 8 Hubert Hurkacz
- 2023 and 2024 Australian Open Champion Aryna Sabalenka + 2022 BNP Paribas Open Champion Taylor Fritz
- 2018 Australian Open Champion, 2011 BNP Paribas Open Champion Caroline Wozniacki + World No. 7 Holger Rune
- World No. 4, 2023 BNP Paribas Open Champion Elena Rybakina + World No. 5 Andrey Rublev
- World No. 5 Jessica Pegula + World No. 14 Tommy Paul
- World No. 7, 2024 Australian Open Finalist Qinwen Zheng + World No. 15 Frances Tiafoe
- Former NCAA Champions Emma Navarro (World No. 23) + Ben Shelton (World No. 16)
- 2021 BNP Paribas Open Champion Paula Badosa + World No. 11 Stefanos Tsitsipas
The Eisenhower Cup Tie Break Tens event was held in front of a packed Stadium 2 on Tuesday night
bnpparibasopen.com
Amongst the star-studded pairs, Grand Slam winners, and top-ranked players, though, it was two former NCAA champions, Navarro & Shelton, who teamed up to win the event.
“I’m actually on a pretty good mixed doubles run now after the US Open,” a delighted Shelton told Tennis Channel afterwards. “Whenever you get to play with somebody who hardly misses a ball the whole time we’re out here, it’s pretty cool, and makes things a lot more fun.
“I think we enjoyed the playing, but we also got along well, and that makes things easier.”
Shelton & Navarro had to save a match point in their opening win over Sakkari & Rublev, courtesy of an ace out wide fired by the left-hander.
Knowing a shot like that was available to their team enabled Navarro to play even more freely, as evidenced by her steely baseline exchanges and quick hands.
“I feel pretty confident standing there at the net when he’s serving,” the WTA No 23 added. “We had a lot of fun!”
2024 Eisenhower Cup Results
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