'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The ATP Masters 1000 series consists of 9 tournaments that award 1000 points to the winner. Behind the 4 Grand Slam tournaments (which award 2000 points to the champion) and the season-ending ATP Finals (which awards 1500 points to an undefeated champion), the Masters 1000 tournaments are the most prestigious on tour.
First conceptualized in 1990, when it was called the 'ATP Championship Series', the series has been known by several names over the years - ATP Super 9 from 1996-99, Tennis Masters Series from 2000-03, ATP Masters Series from 2004-08, ATP World Tour Masters 1000 from 2009-18, and ATP Masters 1000 since 2019 onwards.
As of 2019, Indian Wells, Miami, Monte Carlo, Madrid, Rome, Coupe Rogers (Toronto/Montreal), Cincinnati, Shanghai and Paris-Bercy, in that order, constitute the series of 9 Masters 1000 tournaments in a season.
A total of 69 different players have won a Masters 1000 title since the series came into being exactly three decades ago. On that note, let us meet the last 5 players who made their Masters 1000 breakthrough at Indian Wells:
#5 Dominic Thiem (2019)
Long regarded as a clay-court specialist in an era of all-court players, Dominic Thiem provided ample demonstration of his hardcourt prowess by beating five-time champion Roger Federer to lift his first Masters 1000 title at 2019 Indian Wells.
Thiem had lost to eventual runner-up Stan Wawrinka in his first Indian Wells quarterfinal in 2017. But in 2019 he faced no such stumbles, beating Milos Raonic in three sets to reach his first final at the tournament.
You may also like: Meet the last 5 players to have made their Masters 1000 breakthrough
Having not dropped the opening set in all four of his completed matches during the week, Thiem fell behind by a set after 36 minutes in the final as Federer moved to within one set of a record 6th Indian Wells title. But the Austrian regrouped to reverse the momentum and force a third, where he produced clutch tennis at 4-5 30-30 before breaking Federer in the next game and then serving it out.
The triumph made Thiem the only Austrian after Thomas Muster to win a title in the tournament category.
You may also like: Charting the ascent of the newest world no. 3 Dominic Thiem
#4 Juan Martin del Potro (2018)
Enduring one of his toughest weeks at a Masters 1000 tournament, Juan Martin del Potro dropped a set in 4 of his matches at Indian Wells 2018. But the effort was all worth it at the end as it was the big Argentine who was the last man standing in a three-set final against defending champion Roger Federer.
8 years after winning his maiden Grand Slam title at the expense of Federer, it was again the Swiss maestro that was at the receiving end as Del Potro lifted his maiden Masters 1000 title.
The breakthrough win almost did not happen though, as Federer had three championship points on serve at 5-4 in the third set. But Del Potro broke back to clinch the match in a deciding set tiebreak.
You may also like: 8 tournaments where Federer has had the most missed opportunities
#3 Ivan Ljubicic (2010)
After being thwarted in his first 3 Masters 1000 finals at 2005 Madrid, 2005 Paris and 2006 Madrid, Ivan Ljubicic beat Andy Roddick in two tiebreak sets at the 2010 Indian Wells Masters to become the newest Masters 1000 champion.
The title triumph was made sweeter by the fact that the 31-year-old Croatian was then the oldest player to lift a Masters 1000 title.
Ljubicic's win is also notable as it came about following consecutive wins over multiple Masters 1000 champions - Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals, Rafael Nadal in the semifinals and Andy Roddick in the final.
#2 Lleyton Hewitt (2002)
Producing a near-perfect week at Indian Wells 2002, Lleyton Hewitt dropped his lone set of the tournament against Romanian Andrei Pavel in the second round.
In his other matches, Hewitt reeled off straight-set wins over Carlos Moya, Jan-Michael Gambill, Thomas Enqvist and Pete Sampras. He reserved his best for the final, where he lost only three games against Tim Henman as he clinched his first Masters 1000 title.
The reigning US Open champion would go on to lift his second Grand Slam title at Wimbledon later that season.
#1 Mark Philippoussis (1999)
It was a week to remember for Mark Philippoussis at the 1999 Indian Wells Masters.
The big-serving Australian, in his first Masters 1000 final against Spaniard Carlos Moya, dropped the opening set before taking a two sets to one lead.
Despite Moya fighting back to force a fifth, Philippousis was not to be denied the biggest title of his career. The Aussie regrouped by conceding just two games in the decider to lift his maiden Masters 1000 title.
It would prove to be Philippousis' only title in the tournament category.
You may also like: Roger Federer's 4 records at Indian Wells
