1998 Newsweek Champions Cup – Singles

Marcelo Ríos defeated Greg Rusedski in the final, 6–3, 6–7(15–17), 7–6(7–4), 6–4 to win the men's singles tennis title at the 1998 Indian Wells Masters.

Michael Chang was the two-time reigning champion, but had to withdraw from the tournament after he suffered a knee injury. This injury occurred after a bizarre incident where sprinklers had accidentally sprayed water onto the court that Chang was practising on, causing Chang to slip and tear his left knee.

Seeds
The top eight seeds received a bye into the second round. • # 🇺🇸 Pete Sampras (third round)

• # 🇨🇿 Petr Korda (quarterfinals)

• # 🇦🇺 Patrick Rafter (third round)

• # 🇷🇺 Yevgeny Kafelnikov (second round)

• # 🇸🇪 Jonas Björkman (second round)

• # 🇬🇧 Greg Rusedski (final)

• # Marcelo Ríos (champion)

• # 🇺🇸 Michael Chang (withdrew)

• # 🇪🇸 Álex Corretja (first round)

• # 🇧🇷 Gustavo Kuerten (first round)

• # 🇸🇰 Karol Kučera (second round)

• # 🇦🇺 Mark Philippoussis (first round)

• # 🇪🇸 Félix Mantilla (first round)

• # 🇪🇸 Sergi Bruguera (second round)

• # 🇫🇷 Cédric Pioline (second round)

• # 🇪🇸 Alberto Berasategui (first round, retired)

Seeds
• # 🇦🇺 Richard Fromberg (first round)

• # 🇪🇸 Carlos Costa (first round)

• # 🇪🇸 Galo Blanco (first round)

• # 🇨🇿 Daniel Vacek (first round)

• # 🇮🇹 Andrea Gaudenzi (qualified)

• # Byron Black (first round)

• # 🇪🇨 Nicolás Lapentti (qualifying competition, lucky loser)

• # 🇪🇸 Javier Sánchez (first round)

• # 🇺🇸 Vince Spadea (qualified)

• # 🇧🇷 Fernando Meligeni (first round)

• # 🇫🇷 Jérôme Golmard (first round)

• # Grant Stafford (qualified)

• # 🇪🇸 Juan Albert Viloca (qualified)

• # 🇦🇺 Scott Draper (qualified)

Qualifiers
• # 🇪🇸 Juan Albert Viloca

• # Grant Stafford

• # 🇦🇺 Scott Draper

• # 🇩🇪 Hendrik Dreekmann

• # 🇮🇹 Andrea Gaudenzi

• # 🇺🇸 Vince Spadea

• # Wayne Black

Lucky loser

 * 1) 🇪🇨 Nicolás Lapentti