Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic & more: When do the top stars debut at Indian Wells?
Tennis News
The biggest stars of the ATP and WTA are gearing up for their Indian Wells debuts, with Carlos Alcaraz, Iga Swiatek, Novak Djokovic, Coco Gauff, Aryna Sabalenka, and Taylor Fritz among the main attractions. As the first round unfolds, here’s a look at when the top players will take the court.
The top half of the ATP draw—led by Alexander Zverev and Casper Ruud—will play on Wednesday (March 5), Friday, Sunday, and Tuesday. On those same days, the bottom half of the WTA draw, featuring Iga Swiatek and Jessica Pegula, will also compete.
Meanwhile, the bottom half of the ATP draw—which includes Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic—will play on Thursday, Saturday, Monday, and Wednesday. On those same days, the top half of the WTA draw, headlined by Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, and Madison Keys, will take the court.
On Thursday, March 13, all ATP and WTA quarterfinals will be played. The WTA semifinals are set for Friday, March 14, followed by the ATP semifinals on Saturday, March 15. The tournament concludes on Sunday, March 16, with both finals taking place at Indian Wells' main stadium.
Key players' debut matches
Thursday, March 6 (First Round)
• Belinda Bencic – Tatjana Maria
• João Fonseca - Jacob Fearnley
• Nick Kyrgios - Botic Van de Zandschulp
• Jakub Menšík - Tomas Martin Etcheverry
• Emma Raducanu – Moyuka Uchijima
Friday, March 7 (Second Round)
ATP
• Daniil Medvedev - (Bu/Basavareddy)
• Tommy Paul - (Boyer/Vukic)
• Casper Ruud - (Giron/Basilashivili)
• Holger Rune - (Moutet/Thompson)
• Stefanos Tsitsipas - (Seyboth Wild/Muller)
• Alexander Zverev - (Kecmanovic/Griekspoor)
WTA
• Mirra Andreeva - (Kvitova/Gracheva)
• Paula Badosa - (Rakhimova/Dolehide)
• Danielle Collins - (Baptiste/Osuigwe)
• Jessica Pegula - (Stearns/Linette)
• Iga Swiatek - (Garcia/Pera)
• Zheng Qinwen - (Ngounoue/Azarenka)
• Elena Rybakina - (Bouzkova/Lamensa)
Saturday, March 8 (Second Round)
ATP
• Carlos Alcaraz - (Carreño Busta/Halys)
• Novak Djokovic - (Kyrgios/Van de Zandschulp)
• Jack Draper - (Fearnley/Fonseca)
• Taylor Fritz - (Baez/Gigante)
• Alex de Minaur - (Sonego/Goffin)
• Andrey Rublev - (Arnaldi/Kovacevic)
• Ben Shelton - (Navone/Yien)
WTA
• Coco Gauff - (Raducanu/Uchijima)
• Madison Keys - (Bouzas Maneiro/Potapova)
• Jasmine Paolini - (Grabher/Jovic)
• Aryna Sabalenka - (Blinkova/Kessler)
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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