Overview
- Main-draw action is underway with WTA first-round matches on Wednesday and seeds across both tours holding byes into round two through a schedule running to March 15.
- World No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz arrives 12-0 in 2026 after titles in Melbourne and Doha, with a tricky early path and Novak Djokovic placed in his half.
- Third seed Novak Djokovic plays his first event since the Australian Open final as he pursues a record sixth Indian Wells crown to move past Roger Federer.
- Jannik Sinner returns to Indian Wells after missing last year during a suspension and targets a first title of 2026 following a hard training block.
- Defending champions Jack Draper and Mirra Andreeva rejoin deep fields, while travel snags for Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev and a rise in withdrawals have reshaped parts of the draw; total prize money is about $9.41 million.