Tennis's elite landed in California this week, as the 2026 BNP Parabas Open at Indian Wells hardcourt tournament kicked off the annual US-based Sunshine Double.
Reigning champion Mirra Andreeva is back to defend her 2025 Indian Wells title, with the world No. 8 joined by the rest of the WTA's Top 10, including No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka.
"I'm just so excited to be here as a defending champion, to see my photos almost everywhere," said Andreeva ahead of this year's tournament. "I don't feel any pressure defending points."
Though the competition began with the Round of 128 on Wednesday, all seeded players enter in the Round of 64 — with a strong US contingent, including No. 4 Coco Gauff, No. 5 Jessica Pegula, and No. 6 Amanda Anisimova, joining the fray on Friday.
"So far, so good," Gauff said earlier this week. "The weather is great as usual, so yeah, I'm excited to go out there and play."
Though US competitors like Hailey Baptiste and Taylor Townsend survived their Round of 128 matchups, fellow US main draw contender and tennis legend Venus Williams failed to advance, falling to France's Diane Parry 6-3, 6-7(4), 6-1 on Thursday.
How to watch the 2026 BNP Parabas Open at Indian Wells
The two-day Round of 64 begins at 2 PM ET on Friday, with the annual tournament running through the championship final on Sunday, March 15th.
Live coverage of the Indian Wells Open will air on the Tennis Channel.
