By Richard Pagliaro Thursday, February 5, 2026
Image source: BNP Paribas Open Facebook
Australian Open Champion Carlos Alcaraz and Elena Rybakina Heading to tennis heaven next month.
Defending Indian Wells champions Mirra Andreeva and Jack Draper join the AO champion at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.
All the top 75 men’s and women’s players compete in Indian Wells.
world champion Alina Sabalenka and 22 years old Alcaraz is set to retain the top seed.
Two-time BNP Paribas Open champion Alcaraz (2023, 2024) Fresh into Indian Wells, she made history by becoming the youngest man to complete a career Grand Slam at the 2026 Australian Open, while Sabalenka will be looking to avenge her loss to her rival in the Australian Open final. Elena Rybakina.
Rybakina, the 2023 BNP Paribas Open champion, is targeting a second career title in Indian Wells after claiming her second Grand Slam trophy in Melbourne.
24-time Grand Slam champion and five-time BNP Paribas Open champion Novak Djokovic (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016 Indian Wells tennis champion) entered the court after finishing runner-up at the 2026 Australian Open, becoming the oldest player to reach the final in the history of the event. Djokovic aims to reach 17thth Career emergence in tennis heaven, he is targeting a record-breaking sixth BNP Paribas Open title.
defending champion Jack Draper and Mira Andreeva Entering the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, hoping to regain glory after dreaming of winning last year.
The 24-year-old British player won the biggest title of his young career last March, defeating two-time defending champion Alcaraz in the semi-finals and Holger Ruhn in the final to claim his first Masters 1000 title. World No. 13 Draper, who has been sidelined with an arm injury since the U.S. Open, will return to play for Great Britain this weekend when they take on hosts Norway in the Davis Cup.
Andreeva’s championship run in 2026 proved to be equally magical, with the teenage prodigy becoming the youngest BNP Paribas Open champion since Serena Williams in 1999. She returns to the desert as world number seven, aiming to recreate the magic of her championship run, which included two wins over world number one Sabalenka and two-time BNP Paribas Open champion Iga Swiatek (2022, 2024) Entered the finals and semi-finals respectively.
Other former champions eager to repeat in the desert include four-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 14 Naomi Osaka (2018), and ranked 65th in the world Paola Badosa (2021). Returning men’s champions include No. 1 American and No. 7 in the world Taylor Fritz (2022) and Ranked 26th in the world Cameron Norrie (2021).
second in the world Jannik Sinner He will return to Indian Wells after missing the 2025 event. Sinner will be aiming for the elusive first career title in tennis heaven after reaching the semi-finals in 2023 and 2024. Other top 5 talents on the ATP side include 2026 Australian Open semifinalist and world No. 4 Alexander Zverevalso Lorenzo Musetti – cracked the top five for the first time in his young career to start the 2026 season.
No American woman has won Indian Wells since Serena Williams in 2001, and a talented group of top stars is set to break that record in 2026. Two-time Grand Slam finalist Amanda Anisimova She is the highest-ranked American player on the women’s side after reaching a career-high world ranking of No. 3 in January. She will be joined by the two-time Grand Slam champion and world number five Coco Gough and ranked sixth in the world Jessica Pegula As the Americans who have the best chance to break the desert championship drought.
U.S. men, ranked 9th in the world Ben Shelton Join Fritz as one of the top ten American players dreaming of winning in Indian Wells. former grand slam semifinalist Tommy Paul (ranked 22nd in the world) and Frances Tiafoe (World No. 30) joins Southern California native and World No. 24 on the list of top 30 American players at Indian Wells learner field – He reached the quarter-finals at the 2026 Australian Open, a career-best performance.
Ranked 20th in the world Eva Jovic The 18-year-old Southern California native, fresh off a career-best quarterfinal run at the 2026 Australian Open, joins Tien as one of the newest top-20 American young talents. Other top U.S. fans can also look forward to watching action from home, including the 2025 Australian Open champion Madison Keys (No. 15 in the world) and 2024 U.S. Open semifinals Emma Navarro (No. 17 in the world).
Other headliners on the roster include two-time Grand Slam finalist Jasmine Paolini (World No. 8), 10-time WTA Tour Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist Belinda Bencic (World No. 9), 2026 Australian Open Semi-finals Elena Svitolina (World No. 10), and 10-time ATP Tour Champion Alex de Minaur (World No. 6), 2025 U.S. Open Semifinals Felix Auger-Aliassime (No. 8 in the world), two-time BNP Paribas Open finalist Daniil Medvedev (Ranked 11th in the world).
The remaining spots on the singles roster will be filled by the winners of qualifying tournaments held from March 1-3, as well as wild card winners from each tour event to be announced in the coming weeks. The doubles and mixed doubles players will be announced later.
