A trend characterized by golf and tennis clubs worldwide quips that diehard golf fans typically follow the professional tennis to some extent. And vice versa with tennis fans. As all the Tiger talk clouds the sports wires, it’s easy to forget that the month of March is huge in the tennis world. So big in fact that the ATP World Tour has cleverly branded it- “Game. Set. March.”

What is extra noteworthy about the series of tournaments transpiring in March is that the BNP Paribas Open will take place in Palm Springs, which is within driving distance of Valley-residing tennis fans. A fill up and a half’s worth of gas will get you to the center of the tennis universe and one of the largest tournaments on the tour.

Beginning March 9 and going through the 22^nd, The Indian Wells Tennis Tournament (noted as one of the most attended tennis tournaments in the world) will take place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, near Palm Springs, California. Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Maria Sharapova, Ana Ivanovic, Jelena Jankovic are just some of the athletes scheduled to appear and compete in the two-week ATP Masters Series and Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Premier event. 250 of the best tennis players in the world will converge to stage what will surely be a couple weeks of compelling tennis play.

The tour will grace both coasts during the four-week period beginning March 9 in two locations – Indian Wells, Calif. which plays host to the BNP Paribas Open tournament (Mar. 9-22), and Key Biscayne, Fla. (near Miami), which hosts the Sony Ericsson Open (Mar. 23-Apr. 5).

Both tournaments feature the world’s elite men and women’s players (more than 500 for both events) representing approximately 35 countries and offers $18 million in prize money and 1,000 in ranking points.

A record 330,000 people attended the Indian Wells event last year. If you’re not planning to make the drive through the desert to catch play live, be sure to watch all the action on FOX Sports Net and its affiliates around the country.

- Nichole Brophy, Golf Editor

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