Indian Wells ATP 2026: Schedule, Entry List, Draw and Predictions

The Indian Wells Open also known as BNP Paribas Open is due to take place from March 4 - March 15 in Tennis Paradise and we have the inside track here ahead of the tournament beginning.

Indian Wells is seen as the fifth Grand Slam by many due to where it is in the calendar and it's prestige. It sits just before the heavy clay court run but is all on its own alongside Miami.

The hard-court ATP Masters 1000 tournament was established all the way back in 1976, will take place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and sees Jack Draper as defending champion in the ATP/WTA tournament with it also being a WTA 1000 at the same time. Jannik Sinner, Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic as of time of writing are all playing and lead the men's field.

(as of ticktocktennis)

The singles daw will take place on Monday 2 March at 3 p.m.

The schedule will be confirmed on Tuesday March 3rd before play begins on Wednesday March 4.

Samuel Gill, Head Editor for TennisUpToDate only sees two winners.

Going to go so boring and say Carlos Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner. I merely just don't think that any other players will get near.

Both haven't played a huge heap in a while. Alcaraz played in Doha but other than that hasn't for some time and won't have played since so he will be rested.

I'll be intrigued whether Novak Djokovic actually bothers playing and if so he could be up there. While I also see good weeks for Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud and even Jack Draper.

*** Carlos Alcaraz

** Jannik Sinner, Novak Djokovic

* Alex de Minaur, Casper Ruud, Jack Draper

Cristhian Avila, Editor for TennisUpToDate sees no surprises on the way with the winner.

Any result that is not a final between Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz would be a surprise. And this is not something new, but something we have seen over the last two years. Beyond the clear favoritism of both, I believe that based on conditions and current form Alcaraz will take the title, while I still see Sinner strong enough to reach the final without complications.

One of the major obstacles will be Felix Auger-Aliassime, who retired injured early in Australia, but now will have another chance to show whether he can challenge the best — and in best-of-three sets he has a greater opportunity. A similar case is Ben Shelton, who as a local player and in best-of-three format will have better chances than in the Grand Slams to surprise the top two.

*Carlos Alcaraz

**Jannik Sinner

***Felix Auger-Aliassime, Ben Shelton, Daniil Medvedev

Theo Stodiek, Editor for TennisAktuell.DE sees a leading trio enveloping.

The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is always one of the most fascinating stops on the calendar, with its slow, gritty Laykold hard courts, dry desert air and often tricky winds creating a unique test in the middle of the California desert. For me, though, the men’s draw once again starts with one clear reference point:

Carlos Alcaraz. The Spaniard has lifted the trophy here in both 2023 and 2024, becoming the first back‑to‑back men’s champion at Indian Wells since Novak Djokovic in 2016, and his heavy forehand topspin is perfectly built for these high‑bouncing conditions. Even his loss last year to a red‑hot Jack Draper, who only returned to the ATP Tour in Dubai last week after months out, does little to shake my belief that Draper is not yet ready to seriously threaten an in‑form Alcaraz or Jannik Sinner over the course of this fortnight.

That said, I am very curious to see what version of Sinner turns up. The Italian has wobbled recently, with his Australian Open semi‑final loss to Djokovic followed by a surprising quarter‑final defeat to Jakub Mensik in Doha, but Indian Wells could be exactly the stage where he rediscovers his sharpest level and finally avenges the back‑to‑back defeats he suffered here to Alcaraz in 2023 and 2024.

Alexander Zverev is another key name to watch as he kicks off the Sunshine Double. He has often struggled in Indian Wells in the past and has openly called himself “the worst wind player” on tour, a worrying label at an event where gusts routinely disturb rhythm and ball tosses. Behind the main trio, Félix Auger‑Aliassime and Alexander Bublik are my two dark horses: alongside Alcaraz they currently lead the tour in match wins in 2026, both already own titles this season, and they arrive from Dubai brimming with confidence.