The soundtrack at a modern club has changed from a single note to a full symphony. You still hear the familiar ping of the strings on a tennis ball, but now it's mixed with the rhythmic thwack of pickleball and the bouncy thud of padel on the glass walls. This didn't happen because someone influential decided it should; it happened organically, driven by a new breed of athlete who refuses to be fenced in by tradition.

By the end of the week, it was hard to tell what felt more fragile: the schedule, the draw, the final, or the belief that sport can stay separate from the world around it.

Back in September, Woolmark announced that Venus Williams was making her return to the US Open in a “groundbreaking Merino wool performance kit designed by LUAR.” Recently, Naomi Osaka won the Australian Open in a collaboration with couturier Robert Wun and Nike. What made that possible? The short answer is a strategic mix of design and technological advancements, but that connective tissue is textile innovation.

For the uninitiated, we humbly present the following guide to the area surrounding the area. While by no means exhaustive, here are some picks for places of interest while on your way to and from the tournament: some restaurants, sights and even a couple places to stay. And if you’ve been to Indian Wells before, welcome back: It’s going to be another great year.

We contemplate an ATP tour without Stan Wawrinka, who lifted trophies and bared it all in a memorable Body Issue spread: In a room full of Pat Rafters, our See You in Court columnist Mel Kenny would still stan Stan.

Our intrepid correspondent spends a weekend in Texas Hill Country with tennis' most controversial coach—and budding empire builder, with 18 global locations (and counting) of his namesake academy ready to take over the world. They talk life, changing the rules on coaching and (of course) Serena Williams.

The Open Era, an upcoming novel by debut author Edward Schmit, follows Austin Hardy, an openly gay tennis player, as he navigates two weeks playing in the US Open. We sat down with Schmit to talk tennis, books, and… the gay sports genre that is suddenly everywhere.

Just in time for the holidays, we are so thrilled to be opening our doors to the Racquet Clubhouse. In our hometown of New York City, there's only one club that offers best-in-class tennis, padel and squash—alongside a spa, juice and coffee bar: CityView Racquet Club. That's where we've launched our first IRL pro shop.