BNP Paribas Open: Tommy Haas shares views on Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek and more

This year the BNP Paribas Open is highlighting what it is calling a "new era" of the tournament, which includes an enhanced on-site retail experience, new brand partners and a number of new food and beverage offerings.

The Indian Wells tournament also will be highlighting a new era of tennis stars. Serena Williams and Roger Federer have stepped away from the game and 22-time Grand Slam champions Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal have withdrawn from this year's event. That means the next generation of stars will be front and center.

Former world No. 2 Tommy Haas, who became tournament director at Indian Wells in 2016, discussed that new era with The Desert Sun. Here's what he had to say:

The Desert Sun: Tommy, what are you looking forward to most with the younger generation at this year's tournament?

Haas: "The new era of tennis is here. We saw one particular player last year having an unbelievable breakthrough with (19-year-old) Carlos Alcaraz. He made some noise and tennis fans got to witness one of the greats in the making, when he played an unbelievable match against Rafa in the (semifinals) last year. Then, obviously, he went on to win Miami the following week, then the U.S. Open to become the youngest world No. 1. So, very much looking forward to seeing him here. If he's healthy and fit and manages to win a few rounds here, I think he goes down as probably my favorite to win this title, but there's others that want this title as well.

"I think (19-year-old) Holger Rune is another one of the new era. You've got (20-year-old Ben) Shelton, who is a young American, that I'm also looking forward to watching.

"On the women's side, all eyes are usually on (18-year-old) Coco Gauff to see if she can break through and win one of these big titles. But then you have (21-year-old) defending champion Iga Świątek, who is still pretty young as well and who had an unbelievable run here last year. She really is a professional inside and out. There's other great storylines as well. Aryna Sabalenka, who won the Australian Open, wants to win this title.

"Just a great lineup of players, even though we are missing some of the all-time greats."

TDS: You mentioned Iga Świątek, who obviously won here last year. She's won three Grand Slams already in her young career. Is this her era or is it still too early to tell?

Haas: "I think she's the one to beat, to be completely honest. If she's mentally strong, which she usually is, and playing with confidence ... the way she played here last year and the way she dominated some events leading up to this event, she's looking quite sharp. With her athleticism and the way she turns defense into offense and has the mindset of wanting to win and everything else is a disappointment, I think she goes down as the favorite here. But there are so many others who are eager to do well and love being here in the desert."

TDS: Let me ask you about Taylor Fritz, the American who won the men's title here last year. He's now ranked fifth in the world and has played his best tennis since he won here. What has impressed you about how he has played?

Haas: "Just the maturity. I've always liked Taylor's game. I remember playing with him seven or eight years ago. One of my former coaches said, 'You've got to take a look at this kid. He's a good, young, up-and-coming American player.' I was impressed by his power already then. I was thinking to myself, 'Wow, this kid has real firepower,' and that's what he produces. When you can control that firepower that he possesses and make most of the shots the way you need to with that follow-up serve, getting a lot of free points holding serve and then risk more on the return games. I think he's improved his physicality, the way he covers the court, being in the right position. What he did here last year was absolutely incredible. I didn't even think he was going to be able to play in the finals here last year after the injury that he (suffered) in the semis. ...What an amazing story. Good-looking kid, great for American tennis. I'm happy for him."

Andrew John covers the BNP Paribas Open for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.john@desertsun.com.

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: BNP Paribas Open: Tommy Haas shares views on Carlos Alcaraz, Coco Gauff, Taylor Fritz, Iga Swiatek and more