Preview Indian Wells 2026 Day Four | Alcaraz and Djokovic set to feature while Andreeva preparing to start up title defence

We are already onto day four of Indian Wells with a huge amount of drama and thrilling action already keeping the fans thoroughly entertain. That will continue with the final second round action including a whole range of former champions, including the victors in 2025 on the ATP and WTA Tour.

The likes of Jannik Sinner, Alexander Zverev, Ben Shelton and Felix Auger-Aliassime are into round three in the men's event while world number one Aryna Sabalenka is joined by Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova as the big names to cement their spot in the last-32. While 16 players booked their places on day three, that is just half of the last-64 action to be played, with more talented players set to take the headlines in California.

Carlos Alcaraz’s form at Indian Wells has been a sight to behold. It was his first Masters 1000 semi-final back in 2022 before taking home the title in 2023 and 2024. Another semi-final defeat last year is a disappointment for someone whose only aspirations is winning the title, but that is now in the past and he will be hoping to continue his unbeaten streak in 2026. That is sure to end at some point, but that is when with him one of the outright favourites for a third title in California. Grigor Dimitrov is one player who will hope he cannot complete this as he looks get revenge on his round-of-16 defeat last year to the Spaniard.

Speaking of Alcaraz making nemesis’s, Novak Djokovic has not stepped out onto the court since losing his first ever Australian Open final having won the prior ten. A five-time champion in Indian Wells, only Roger Federer can boast that many titles in a place he has much success in the past. However, none of that has emerged recently. He has competed five times since, 2017, never making it past the fourth round. A first meeting against Kamil Majchrzak will give him the chance to make some ground. The Pole defeated Givanni Mpetshi Perricard in the first round.

On top of Alcaraz and Djokovic, there are a few other previous champions in action. Most notably the reigning champion Jack Draper who has finally made his return back from an arm injury which has given him a whole load of grief these past six months or so. He defeated Alcaraz enroute to the final, thrashing Holder Rune 6-2, 6-2 to take a maiden Masters 1000 title. He will start up his title defence against Roberto Bautista Agut.

Two fellow Brits will be in action in the ATP event, with both matches featuring former winners. When Cameron Norrie was in his pomp, he became the first Brit to win this event, ahead of the likes of losing finalists Andy Murray, Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski. Now back in the top 32, he will look for another deep run with qualifier Mackenzie McDonald in his way.

As for Jacob Fearnley, it is slightly tougher. 2022 victor Taylor Fritz has stumbled into a number of injury woes this year but still should have a title if he was able to take one of the opportunities against Ben Shelton in the Dallas Open.

Alex de Minaur experienced a first early exit in 2026 at the Mexican Open. The opportunity has quickly arisen for him to put that disappointment far behind him with the ABN AMRO Open champion taking on the winner in Acapulco Sebastian Korda who has found a nice patch of form and will be a danger on home soil.

The form of the likes of Alexander Bublik, Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev will be interesting hence their narrow escape from the Middle East amid the ongoing conflict. Bublik found out when he was out of the country to his fortune. He has had more time to prepare for the first Masters 1000 event of the year, and the first he will take part where he is in the top 10. The last one, Paris Masters, he reached a maiden semi-final. Lucky loser Vit Kopriva has already seized the opportunity to compete with open arms and will look to cause a huge stir.

As for Russian duo Medvedev and Rublev, their preparation has been limited after their deep runs in Dubai. The champion, Medvedev, will face Alejandro Tabilo while Rublev will face Gabriel Diallo.

More Russian involvement comes through Karen Khachanov who is up against Joao Fonseca in a highly anticipated clash. Casper Ruud won his first Masters 1000 title last year at the Madrid Open. Another one cannot be written off yet with Alexander Shevchenko his opening task at hand. The Shanghai Masters champion, Valentin Vacherot, is up against Nuno Borges while the recent Chile Open winner, Luciano Darderi, gets his campaign up and running against Rinky Hajikata.

As for the other second round fixtures: Aleksandar Kovacevic and Corentin Moutet will go head-to-head, Francisco Cerundolo will take on Benjamin Bonzi, more Argentine involvement as Juan Manual Cerundolo has been drawn to play Arthur Rinderknech and Sebastian Baez has been drawn a tricky matchup against Jiri Lehecka.

In between 2022 and 2024, Iga Swiatek and Elena Rybakina were the dominant forces in Indian Wells. This can especially be said for Swiatek. The six-time Grand Slam champion won two titles and in the last four years has reached at least the final four. While her form may not be that it was a couple of years ago, she proved that she can still do it on the big stage last year with Wimbledon and Cincinnati Open titles. More success could be in line in California this week, but day four could also mark the end of her trip if qualifier Kaya Day is to do the seemingly impossible.

Something similar actually occurred in Dubai with the number one seed and huge favourite Rybakina withdrawing from her last-16 match against Antonia Ruzic. The Australian champion is virtually unbeatable when at her best, just ask the world number one. Hailey Baptiste will beg to differ, however, in a second WTA meeting between the pair.

The big story coming into this is whether the reigning champion Mirra Andreeva can repeat the incredible heroics from last year where she defeated Aryna Sabalenka for a second WTA 1000 title on the spin. Her fortunes have not been great since, just missing out on qualification for the WTA Finals. Her last match saw the Russian lose a slog of a match against Amanda Anisimova, bursting into tears as she waved goodbye to her title efforts in Dubai. She will take on Solana Sierra who defeated the ATX Open champion Peyton Stears to set up this clash.

Jessica Pegula was rampant in Dubai, as she has been most of this season. She has reached semi-final stage in all three tournaments competed in this year, winning her fourth WTA 1000 crown in the Middle East over Elina Svitolina in a stunning performance. An American has not stepped on the top step of the podium in this event since Serena Williams in 2001. Pegula will back herself over the likes of Coco Gauff and Amanda Anisimova to break that jinx with Donna Vekic looking to get a first win over the world number six.

Svitolina has made five WTA 1000 finals, and that was the first one she had loss. The ASB Classic champion and Australian Open semi-finalist has begun the year in scintillating fashion, taking down most in her way. This form has the potential to continue deep into the year but that is a very high standard to set. She will be hoping to not let it fall against Germany’s Laura Siegmund who showed resilience in a comeback win in the first round against Petra Marcinko.

Before Dubai, there was a tournament played out in Doha. The Qatar Open went the way of Karolina Muchova who only won a second WTA title, and first since 2019. Some stat considering she is a former Roland Garros finalist. This is only her third appearance at Indian Wells, with Anna Bondar looking to give her something to think about.

Since her failed title defence in Melbourne, Madison Keys has not stepped out onto the court. She will return to play Diane Parry who dumped out Venus Williams. Last year’s semi-finalist has a lot to defend. That is similar to Belinda Bencic who has lost her grasp on the top 10 in recent weeks. A quarterfinalist from last year, she will hope to get back up to speed and one step closer with a victory against Storm Hunter.

Marta Kostyuk has not appeared since losing in the first round at Melbourne. Beforehand, she defeated some of the best players in the world to reach the final of the Brisbane International. Someone who has played a lot of tennis in recent weeks is Taylor Townsend, who is benefiting from it. Maria Sakkari is also starting to find her old self once more. A two-time finalist, the Greek knows what it takes to go deep in California and will put her already trial and tested methods to use against Lilli Tagger.

Olympic gold medallist Qinwen Zheng continues to return from an elbow injury. She is up against Ruzic with Katerina Siniakova locking horns with an out of form Leylah Fernandez. Former Roland Garros champion Jelena Ostapenko will clash against Katie Volynets while fellow American Ashlyn Krueger has earned herself a tie versus Liudmila Samsonova. Finally, Sonay Kartal will look to add her name alongside Emma Raducanu as Brits to make it into the third round as she takes on Emma Navarro.