The third day of Indian Wells will take place on Friday, March 7, featuring the debut of half of the tournament's top seeds. With the first round completed, it's time for the favourites to take the court, including defending champion Iga Swiatek and men’s top seed Alexander Zverev as the main attractions.
They won’t be the only contenders making their tournament debuts on Friday. Jessica Pegula, Daniil Medvedev, Elena Rybakina, Casper Ruud, Zheng Qinwen, Matteo Berrettini, Paula Badosa, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Mirra Andreeva will also begin their campaigns in Tennis Paradise.
Zverev and Medvedev take Centre Court
Sascha Zverev arrives in Indian Wells as the top seed – following Jannik Sinner’s three-month suspension – and will begin his campaign against Tallon Griekspoor. The German enters the tournament after a disappointing South American swing (one win, two losses) and an early exit in the Mexican Open last week, where he only reached the Round of 16.
In a similar situation is former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev, the tournament’s fifth seed, who has been struggling for consistency. The Russian is looking to turn things around as he defends his runner-up finish from last year. He opens against China’s Bu Yunchaokete.
Daniil Medvedev at the 2024 Indian Wells.
Swiatek, Pegula, and Rybakina back in action
Defending champion Iga Swiatek will face a tough opening challenge against former WTA Finals winner Caroline Garcia. The Frenchwoman has dropped in the rankings over the past year, currently sitting at world No. 71. However, she has proven to be a dangerous opponent, having defeated Swiatek at the 2022 Warsaw Open. The head-to-head record still favours the Pole, who leads 4-1.
World No. 4 Jessica Pegula is another top contender, aiming to end a 24-year drought for American women in Indian Wells. The last home champion was Serena Williams in 2001, and since then, Americans have fallen short in four finals: Lindsay Davenport (2003, 2004, 2005) and Serena (2016). Pegula will take on Magda Linette, who advanced after defeating Peyton Stearns in the first round.
Elena Rybakina, already a champion in Indian Wells after her 2023 victory over Aryna Sabalenka, will open against Dutch qualifier Suzan Lamens. The 2022 Wimbledon champion has posted a solid 13-5 record in 2025, and Indian Wells could be the perfect stage for her to rediscover top form and emerge as a title contender once again.
2025 BNP Paribas Open (03-06)
Stadium 1
| Round 1 - Final |
 Joao Fonseca |
6 1 6 |
 Jacob Fearnley |
2 6 3 |
| Round 1 - Final |
 Moyuka Uchijima |
6 6 |
| Emma Raducanu |
3 2 |
| Round 1 - Final |
 Tatjana Maria |
1 1 |
 Belinda Bencic |
6 6 |
| Round 1 - 1st |
 Nick Kyrgios |
5 |
 Botic Van De Zandschulp |
5 |
Stadium 2
| Round 1 - Final |
 Sofia Kenin |
6 6 |
| Maddison Inglis |
2 1 |
| Round 1 - Final |
 Alejandro Davidovich Fokina |
6 3 2 |
| Mackenzie McDonald |
2 6 6 |
| Round 1 - Final |
 Gael Monfils |
6 6 |
| Jan-Lennard Struff |
4 4 |
| Round 1 - 2nd |
| McCartney Kessler |
6 4 |
 Anna Blinkova |
1 1 |
| Round 1 - 3/6 - 10:30 PM EST |
| Learner Tien |
|
 Mariano Navone |
|
Stadium 3
| Round 1 - Final |
| Jenson Brooksby |
1 7 7 |
| Benjamin Bonzi |
6 5 5 |
| Round 1 - Final |
 Gabriel Diallo |
2 6 7 |
 Zhang Zhizhen |
6 2 6 |
| Round 1 - Final |
| Aleksandar Kovacevic |
3 7 4 |
 Matteo Arnaldi |
6 5 6 |
| Round 1 - 2nd |
| Lorenzo Sonego |
4 2 |
 David Goffin |
6 3 |
| Round 1 - 3/6 - 10:15 PM EST |
 Julia Grabher |
|
| Iva Jovic |
|
| Round 1 - 3/6 - 11:00 PM EST |
 Elina Avanesyan |
|
| Lauren Davis |
|
Stadium 4
| Round 1 - Final |
| Polina Kudermetova |
6 6 |
| Claire Liu |
4 2 |
| Round 1 - Retired |
| Catherine McNally |
6 |
| Ajla Tomljanovic |
4 |
| Round 1 - Final |
| Hugo Gaston |
6 6 |
| Luciano Darderi |
3 3 |
| Round 1 - 1st |
| Adam Walton |
6 |
| Giulio Zeppieri |
5 |
Stadium 5
| Round 1 - Final |
| Rinky Hijikata |
6 6 |
 Alexander Shevchenko |
1 3 |
| Round 1 - Final |
 Jakub Mensik |
6 7 |
| Tomas Martin Etcheverry |
4 6 |
| Round 1 - Final |
| Sebastian Baez |
6 1 4 |
| Matteo Gigante |
3 6 6 |
| Round 1 - 3rd |
 Nuno Borges |
6 5 2 |
| Arthur Rinderknech |
1 7 0 |
| Round 1 - 3/6 - 10:15 PM EST |
| Pablo Carreno Busta |
|
| Quentin Halys |
|
Stadium 6
| Round 1 - Final |
| Lucia Bronzetti |
6 7 |
 Anhelina Kalinina |
4 5 |
| Round 1 - Final |
| Maya Joint |
2 5 |
 Sorana Cirstea |
6 7 |
| Round 1 - Final |
| Jaqueline Cristian |
6 6 |
| Veronika Kudermetova |
2 3 |
| Round 1 - 3/6 - 10:05 PM EST |
 Dusan Lajovic |
|
| Li Tu |
|
Stadium 7
| Round 1 - Final |
 Viktoriya Tomova |
6 6 |
| Olga Danilovic |
2 3 |
| Round 1 - Final |
| Varvara Lepchenko |
6 2 |
| Sonay Kartal |
7 6 |
| Round 1 - Final |
| Kimberly Birrell |
6 6 |
| Viktorija Golubic |
4 4 |
Stadium 9
| Round 1 - 3rd |
| Anastasia Potapova |
6 6 1 |
| Jessica Bouzas Maneiro |
7 4 1 |
undefined
| Round 1 - 3/6 - 10:30 PM EST |
| TBD |
|
| TBD |
|
mandoist02-03-2025