SCHEDULE and PREVIEW | 2024 Indian Wells Open Day One featuring Angelique KERBER, Andy MURRAY, Mirra ANDREEVA and Venus WILLIAMS

Wednesday, 06 March 2024 at 10:06

Day One is here at the 2024 Indian Wells Open (BNP Paribas Open) for sponsorship reasons and the schedule after the conclusion of qualifying is fully confirmed with a myriad of top names involved.

Among those include Andy Murray, Angelique Kerber, Venus Williams, Caroline Wozniacki, Paula Badosa and Mirra Andreeva as Tennis Paradise begins for another year. Many of the other top names will not play until towards the end of the week with the first round forming the opening few days, our preview looks at the main matches to watch and the leading talking points.

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Returning Kerber, Murray and Venus Williams to anchor show court schedule

With two sessions, the action begins at around 7pm CET on Wednesday evening and the Night Session begins at 2am meaning that the matches have been picked accordingly for those markets. Angelique Kerber as a result begins proceedings. Still a big draw despite not having the results yet on her comeback, the German will kick off against Petra Martic. She is followed by a home hero in Christopher Eubanks who after his run at Wimbledon established new fame in the States, but has yet to back that up. He faces Brandon Nakashima.

Then likely a match that will go long knowing this player, Andy Murray will be the last action before the night shift against former top ranked star, David Goffin. While the Night Session sees two Americans involved as Venus Williams will make yet another tennis return at the age of 43. Her wildcard has been criticised by some despite Venus being a tennis legend and also huge in the States, but it is perhaps her age and the next crop not being given them that has rubbed people up the wrong way. Albeit Caroline Wozniacki and Emma Raducanu were also dubbed 'pensioners' when they are far from being close to their twilight especially in the latter, so opinions are opinions. She faces Nao Hibino before J.J Wolf faces Thiago Seyboth Wild.

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Andreeva, Wozniacki and Badosa lead other courts

Perhaps some of the games on Stadium 2 though will be more must watch with Mirra Andreeva, the 16-year-old tennis prodigy starting her campaign against Katie Volynets second on Stadium 2. Caroline Wozniacki who is a three-time finalist also kicks off her campaign against Lin Zhu in back to back shouts for Game of the Day.

Paula Badosa also appears against Ashlyn Krueger, but upset watch will be there with the American being a capable talent and the Spaniard lucky to even be in the tournament due to recent injury woes. She is for sure not 100% and last left the court in tears. She is last up so will likely head towards the morning in Spain when they are waking up. Others on further courts include San Diego champion, Katie Boulter as well as recent Doha standout, Jakub Mensik. Not without some of the stars not being involved early doors, Day One still provides some must-watch action from The Garden.