Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina step in. And if you’d expect those two to meet in the semifinals in a week, there’s lots of work to do, still.
And Leylah Fernandez, whose start to 2026 has been pretty tame, meets the feisty Katerina Siniakova in yet another tough opening round, despite her seeding.
Marta Kostyuk also is back, for the first time since losing in the opening around at the Australian Open. She gets an in-form Taylor Townsend. Also not easy.
(Indian Wells is three hours behind ET).
BNP Paribas Open
Location: Indian Wells, Calif.
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Hard Court
Dates: March 4 – 15, 2026
Prize Money: $9,415,725
Draws: S96 – D32
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Stadium 1 (11 a.m. start – 2 p.m. ET)
1. [3] Elena Rybakina (KAZ) vs. Hailey Baptiste (USA)
4. [5] Jessica Pegula (USA) vs. [WC] Donna Vekic (CRO) (not before 6 p.m.)
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Stadium 2
2. [2] Iga Swiatek (POL) vs. [Q] Kayla Day (USA) (not before 1 p.m.)
3. [8] Mirra Andreeva (RUS) vs. Solana Sierra (ARG)
5. [9] Elina Svitolina (UKR) vs. Laura Siegemund (GER) (not before 8 p.m.)
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Stadium 3
4. [15] Madison Keys (USA) vs. [Q] Diane Parry (FRA)
5. [28] Marta Kostyuk (UKR) vs. [Q] Taylor Townsend (USA)
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Stadium 4
1. [32] Maria Sakkari (GRE) vs. [WC] Lilli Tagger (AUT)
2. [20] Emma Navarro (USA) vs. Sonay Kartal (GBR)
3. [27] Leylah Fernandez (CAN) vs. Katerina Siniakova (CZE)
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Stadium 7
1. [12] Belinda Bencic (SUI) vs. [Q] Storm Hunter (AUS)
2. [26] Jelena Ostapenko (LAT) vs. [WC] Katie Volynets (USA)
4. [22] Elise Mertens (BEL) vs. Cristina Bucsa (ESP)
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Stadium 9
1. [13] Karolina Muchova (CZE) vs. Anna Bondar (HUN)
2. [19] Liudmila Samsonova (RUS) vs. Ashlyn Krueger (USA)
3. [24] Zheng Qinwen (CHN) vs. Antonia Ruzic (CRO)
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