Since 2009, the
Indian Wells Open has been offering out an equal share of
prize money to the ATP and WTA events which will be taking place alongside each other in California, with the women's starting from March 2-15, with the men in action from March 4-15.
A lot of tennis is set to be played out in the states with the men challenging for the first Masters 1000 title of the year. Jack Draper is the reigning champion and a timely return to tennis will see him attempt to defend those points with a drop down the rankings highly possible if not able to get up to speed quickly enough.
He will need to with the amount of talent making the journey over to compete. The top 16 in the world will take to the court, with
Carlos Alcaraz and
Jannik Sinner the firm favourites to go the distance and taste glory. The world number one is yet to lose a match this year, taking home the Australian Open and Qatar Open titles. Contrast to this, Sinner is yet to reach a final and will be looking to quickly overturn this uncharacteristic stat as soon as possible.
The Australian Open finalist Novak Djokovic will be making his return to the court. The 38-year-old showed his class Down Under and is now setting his sights on a sixth
Indian Wells title. However, he is yet to make it to the fourth round since 2017 so will need to overturn that bad form.
Other previous winners still competing include Taylor Fritz and Cameron Norrie, with Daniil Medvedev reaching the final in 2023 and 2024 with Alcaraz defeating him on both occasions. A whole host of other challengers ranging from Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton, Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Lorenzo Musetti and Alexander Bublik also have a keen eye on the prize.
While Alcaraz and Sinner are the main favourites for the title in the ATP draw, the women's is more wide open and unpredictable. One of the standout players has to be the world number one
Aryna Sabalenka who has never won this tournament despite her usually imperious form on hardcourt. She lost in yet another big final at the start of the year in Melbourne and has sat out the first two WTA 1000 events of 2026 in the Middle East.
The Belarusian lost out last year to Mirra Andreeva who has already failed to defend her 1000 title in Dubai. Her double triumph was a huge statement to the tennis world to prove that she is capable of winning the biggest tournaments out there, but her form have slightly gone downhill since. She will be hoping to produce the goods once more as well would 2023 champion Elena Rybakina. The Australian Open champion underperformed in the Middle East compared to her lofty standards and will be hoping to quickly get back on track.
Two-time champion Iga Swiatek is also yet to find her groove this year. She is started to be closed in by the Kazakh who is sprinting away in the WTA rankings from a vast variety of American tennis talents ready to impress on home soil.
An American has not won this title since Serena Williams back in 2001, and there are a number of them who could alter this record. Jessica Pegula will be high on that list after adding a fourth WTA 1000 title in Dubai. Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova also have realistic shots of the title if they can unlock their best form.
Mirra Andreeva defeated Aryna Sabalenka in the 2025 WTA Indian Wells Open final
ATP/WTA Indian Wells Open prize money and ranking points
An even amount of prize money is being offered for both genders, continuing the pattern. An overall $9,693,540 will be handed out at each tournament, which is a 2.87% decrease in prize money from last year.
Despite this, it is still a hefty amount of money to collect especially if you win. The champion will earn themselves a comforting $1,151,380 and 1000 ranking points. The runner-up will have to settle for $612,340 and a respectable 650 ranking points. Semi-finalists earn $340,190 and 400 ranking points.
The four quarterfinalists from each event will earn $193,645 and 200 ranking points with an exit in the round-of-16 worth a total of $105,720 and 100 ranking points. The round-of-32 will get the players $61,865 and 50 ranking points, a departure in the second round is equal to $36,110 and 30 ranking points while a disappointing defeat in the first round will reward the players with $24,335 and 10 ranking points.
| Round | Prize Money | Points |
| Winner | $1,151,380 | 1000 |
| Finalist | $612,340 | 650 |
| Semi-finalist | $340,190 | 400 |
| Quarter-finalist | $193,645 | 200 |
| Round of 16 | $105,720 | 100 |
| Round of 32 | $61,865 | 50 |
| Second Round | $36,110 | 30 |
| First Round | $24,335 | 10 |