Tsitsipas-Sakkari and Venus Williams headline 2026 Indian Wells Mixed Doubles Invitational

The BNP Paribas Open Indian Wells will once again feature the Mixed Doubles Invitational in 2026, continuing a format that debuted two years ago and quickly became a popular addition to the tournament schedule. First introduced during the 2024 edition, the event marked the first time mixed doubles was staged at a combined ATP and WTA 1000 tournament, bringing together leading doubles specialists and high-profile singles players.

This year’s edition will feature 12 teams competing in a knockout format, with matches spread across the second week of the tournament in Indian Wells. The competition begins on Tuesday, March 10, with the final scheduled for Saturday, March 14, adding an extra attraction during the closing stages of the event.

While several established doubles specialists headline the draw, much of the attention will focus on the participation of well-known singles players. Among the most notable entries is the pairing of Stefanos Tsitsipas and Maria Sakkari. The duo received a wildcard into the tournament and will face Anna Danilina and Karen Khachanov in the opening round.

Tsitsipas and Sakkari have both been regular contenders at the biggest tournaments on the ATP and WTA Tours. Their partnership is expected to attract significant attention from fans in Indian Wells, particularly given the chemistry they have shown in past team competitions such as the United Cup.

Another high-profile name returning to the courts in Indian Wells is Venus Williams, who will compete alongside American partner Christian Harrison. The seven-time Grand Slam singles champion enters the event as a wildcard pairing and will face Demi Schuurs and Julian Cash in the first round.

Williams also contested the singles main draw, falling in the first round to Diane Parry. Now she adds another appearance in mixed doubles — having already been seen alongside Reilly Opelka in the past US Open — and will likely be one of the major attractions for fans attending the mixed doubles matches.

Elsewhere in the draw, several other singles players will also take part in the competition. Belinda Bencic will partner Italy’s Flavio Cobolli, while former French Open champion Jelena Ostapenko teams up with American Evan King. Canadian star Leylah Fernandez is another singles player involved, partnering Australian doubles specialist John Peers.

The tournament also includes many of the sport’s leading doubles specialists. Top seeds Gabriela Dabrowski and Lloyd Glasspool headline the field, while second seeds Aleksandra Krunic and Mate Pavic and fourth seeds Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori add further experience to the competition.

The event’s format features a straight knockout structure beginning with the first round, followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and the championship match. Matches will be played across five consecutive days, offering spectators a fast-paced schedule with several high-profile pairings competing for the title.

Since its introduction in 2024, the Mixed Doubles Invitational has provided a rare opportunity to see players from the ATP and WTA Tours competing together outside of team competitions such as the United Cup or Olympic Games. The format also allows fans to watch different combinations of singles stars and doubles specialists sharing the court.

A week earlier, the Eisenhower Cup had already drawn attention in Indian Wells — a mixed doubles exhibition tournament played in a 10-point tie-break format — in which Elena Rybakina and Taylor Fritz successfully defended the title they had won in 2025, defeating the American duo of Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien.