Indian Wells Tennis Order Of Play
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The desert air is warming up, the iconic purple courts are being prepped, and the global tennis elite are converging on the Coachella Valley. The 2026 BNP Paribas Open, affectionately known as “Tennis Paradise,” is officially here.
Running from March 1st through March 15th at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, this year’s tournament promises two weeks of world-class athleticism, dramatic matchups, and the unique blend of luxury and sport that defines this event.
Often hailed as the “Fifth Grand Slam,” it remains the largest two-week combined ATP and WTA tournament outside of the four majors, and the 2026 edition is shaping up to be one for the ages.
From the first qualifying serve to the crowning of the champions, the order of play is a meticulously crafted schedule that guides fans through a non-stop tennis extravaganza.
Whether you’re planning a visit to the desert or following from home, understanding the daily rhythm of the tournament is key to catching every unforgettable moment.
Indian Wells Tennis Order of Play Today
The beauty of the BNP Paribas Open lies in its daily evolution. The action begins even before the main draw stars take the court.
The journey to “Tennis Paradise” starts on Sunday, March 1st, with the Women’s Singles Qualifying rounds taking center stage.
These early days are a fan favorite, offering an intimate look at rising stars and seasoned veterans battling for a coveted spot in the main draw.
By Monday and Tuesday (March 2nd-3rd), the Men’s Qualifying joins the fray. Gates open at 9:00 AM, with matches typically starting at 10:00 AM. It’s a fantastic, budget-friendly way to experience high-stakes tennis up close.
The main draw ignites on Wednesday, March 4th. This is when the world’s best stride onto the court. The first week is characterized by its sheer volume of tennis, with matches spread across the stadiums and outer courts from morning until night.
As a general rule, day sessions begin at 11:00 AM local time, while the evening sessions, featuring marquee matchups under the lights, commence at 6:00 PM.
As the tournament progresses through the rounds, the schedule becomes more refined. The “Round of 16” kicks off on Tuesday, March 10th, marking the start of the tournament’s business end.
By Thursday, March 12th, it’s a “Quarterfinal Extravaganza,” with both men’s and women’s singles quarterfinals creating arguably the best day for pure, high-stakes tennis.
Women’s qualifying starts tomorrow 🎉
Full Order of Play: https://t.co/m14I6Zm6mk #TennisParadise pic.twitter.com/sT1elvusVh
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) March 1, 2026
BNP Paribas Open Schedule Today
For those who love to plan, here is the complete provisional schedule for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, from the first qualifier to the championship point.
| Date | Day’s Events | Session Times (Local) |
|---|---|---|
| Sun, Mar 1 | Women’s Qualifying | Day: 10 AM |
| Mon, Mar 2 | Men’s & Women’s Qualifying | Day: 10 AM |
| Tue, Mar 3 | Men’s & Women’s Qualifying | Day: 10 AM |
| Wed, Mar 4 | Men’s & Women’s 1st Round | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 6 PM |
| Thu, Mar 5 | 1st Round (Singles & Doubles) | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 6 PM |
| Fri, Mar 6 | 2nd Round (Singles & Doubles) | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 6 PM |
| Sat, Mar 7 | 2nd Round (Singles & Doubles) | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 6 PM |
| Sun, Mar 8 | 3rd Round (Singles & Doubles) | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 6 PM |
| Mon, Mar 9 | 3rd Round (Singles & Doubles) | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 6 PM |
| Tue, Mar 10 | Round of 16 / Mixed Doubles 1st Rd | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 6 PM |
| Wed, Mar 11 | Round of 16 / Quarterfinals | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 6 PM |
| Thu, Mar 12 | Quarterfinals / Mixed Doubles Semis | Day: 11 AM / Eve: 5 PM |
| Fri, Mar 13 | Women’s Singles Semifinals / Men’s Doubles Semis | Day: 11 AM |
| Sat, Mar 14 | Women’s Doubles Final / Men’s Doubles Final / Men’s Singles Semifinals | Day: 11 AM |
| Sun, Mar 15 | Women’s Singles Final / Men’s Singles Final / Mixed Doubles Final | Day: 11 AM |
This schedule is your roadmap to the fortnight, ensuring you won’t miss a single serve of the incredible action set to unfold on the sun-drenched courts of Indian Wells.
Order Of Play Indian Wells: Which players are playing and when?
The desert sun is blazing, the courts are ready, and the world’s best tennis players have arrived in the Coachella Valley. The 2026 BNP Paribas Open is officially underway, running from March 1st through March 15th at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Known as the “Fifth Grand Slam,” this two-week extravaganza features the entire top tier of both the ATP and WTA tours. Here is your concise guide to who is playing, when they are playing, and how to catch all the action.
Qualifying: The Fight Begins (March 1-3)
The road to the main draw starts this weekend. Women’s Qualifying kicked off today, Sunday, March 1st, at 10:00 AM local time.
Fans can catch rising stars like Linda Fruhvirtova and veterans like Martina Trevisan battling on the outer courts (Stadiums 4-7).
Men’s Qualifying joins the fray on Monday and Tuesday, featuring French talents Benjamin Bonzi and Luca Van Assche among those hoping to earn a main draw spot.
Main Draw: The Stars Align (March 4-12)
The main draw ignites on Wednesday, March 4th. Here are the headliners you need to watch:
- Men’s Singles Contenders:
Carlos Alcaraz (ESP): World No. 1 and two-time defending champion. He’s chasing a third consecutive Indian Wells title.
Jannik Sinner (ITA): World No. 2, eager to avenge past losses to Alcaraz at this event.
Novak Djokovic (SRB): A five-time champion and living legend.
Jack Draper (GBR): The defending 2025 champion.
Americans: Taylor Fritz, Ben Shelton, and wildcard Gael Monfils (making his final Indian Wells appearance).
- Women’s Singles Contenders:
Aryna Sabalenka: World No. 1 and top seed.
Mirra Andreeva: The defending champion and youngest winner in decades.
Iga Swiatek, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, and Australian Open champion Madison Keys.
Venus Williams: Seven-time Grand Slam champion, competing on a wildcard.
Main Draw Schedule:
- First Round: March 4-5
- Second Round: March 6-7
- Third Round: March 8-9
- Fourth Round: March 10-11
- Quarterfinals: March 12
Day sessions begin at 11:00 AM, evening sessions at 6:00 PM.
Singles Semi-Finals: The Final Four
Women’s Semifinals: Friday, March 13th (Day session, 11:00 AM)
Men’s Semifinals: Saturday, March 14th (Day session, 11:00 AM)
Doubles Final: Team Champions
Women’s Doubles Final: Saturday, March 14th (Day session)
Men’s Doubles Final: Saturday, March 14th (Not before 6:00 PM)
Singles Finals: Championship Sunday (March 15)
Women’s Final: Sunday Morning/Afternoon
Men’s Final: Sunday, Not before 2:00 PM
The champions will walk away with the iconic trophy, 1,000 ranking points, and a winner’s check of $1,151,380.
Will Alcaraz Play Indian Wells in 2026?
One of the most anticipated questions of the season has a resounding answer: yes. World No. 1 and two-time former champion Carlos Alcaraz is confirmed for the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.
The Spanish superstar, who recently added the 2026 Australian Open title to his growing collection, will be looking to make his mark once again in the California desert.
Alcaraz’s participation adds an electrifying element to the men’s draw. After a semifinal exit in the 2025 edition to eventual champion Jack Draper, the young Spaniard will be hungry to reclaim the trophy he won in 2023 and 2024.
He’ll face a stacked field that includes 24-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic, 2026 Australian Open runner-up and second-ranked Jannik Sinner (returning after missing last year), and defending champion Jack Draper.
The men’s singles entry list reads like a who’s who of tennis, featuring Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and a host of other top-tier talents.
For Alcaraz, the tournament marks the start of his crucial American swing, and all eyes will be on him as he begins his campaign for a third Indian Wells title.
Indian Wells Masters Order Of Play: How to watch?
Players have voted Indian Wells Masters to be the best ATP Masters 1000 tournament for a record-breaking sixth time in 2019. Just like Stadium 1, Stadium 2 has been setting standards in the world of ever since it’s introduction in 2014.
The main court has a seating capacity of 16,000 seats and 44 suits. The second stadium can hold 8,000 viewers and also provides a fine-dining experience with Nobu while watching a game.
Indian Wells Order Of Play Today: Where to watch on TV?
The BNP Paribas Open is the only tournament to feature Hawk-Eye technology for all events. It gets very exciting for us fans, which means you can watch it on the ATP site too. You can watch Indian Wells on TV too.
The name of the tournament is drawn from Indian Wells Tennis Garden
Main Court Seating: 16,100
Be sure to check out – Indian Wells Prize Money 2026!
Be sure to check out the official BNP Paribas Open site for Indian Wells tickets! If you are looking to bet, you can do so at bet365!
BNP Paribas Open History
The Indian Wells masters men’s singles event were previously called:
| Sponsor name | Years |
| The American Airlines Tennis Games | 1974–1978 |
| The Congoleum Classic | 1979–1980 |
| The Grand Marnier/ATP Tennis Games | 1981 |
| The Congoleum Classic | 1982–1984 |
| The Pilot Pen Classic | 1985–1987 |
| The Newsweek Champions Cup | 1988–1999 |
| The Tennis Masters Series Indian Wells | 2000–2001 |
| The Pacific Life Open | 2002–2008 |
| BNP Paribas Open | 2009- |
The BNP Paribas Open women’s tournament was originally held a week before the men’s event. They combined the two in 1996 for both Association of Tennis Professionals and Women’s Tennis Association tours.
Now, this tournament is recognized as one of the biggest ones in this sport on both men’s and women’s tour. It is called the Sunshine Double along with the Miami Open and the “Grand Slam of the West”.
What Is the Order of Tennis Tournaments?
For those captivated by the rhythm of the season, Indian Wells holds a pivotal position in the tennis hierarchy.
It is the first ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event of the year, a category that represents the most significant tournaments on the professional circuit outside of the four Grand Slams.
To understand its prestige, here is how the major tournaments are generally ordered by rank and importance:
Grand Slams (The Majors): The four most prestigious events in tennis: the Australian Open, Roland Garros (French Open), Wimbledon, and the US Open. They offer the most ranking points (2000 for the winner) and the largest prize money.
ATP Finals / WTA Finals: The season-ending championships, featuring only the top 8 qualified players/teams of the year. They are a major title but offer a different structure of points and prestige.
ATP Masters 1000 / WTA 1000: This is the category to which the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells belongs. These are mandatory events for top players, offering 1000 ranking points to the champion.
Other tournaments in this elite category include the Miami Open, the Italian Open in Rome, and the Canadian Open (Rogers Cup). Indian Wells is unique as the largest two-week combined event of this kind.
ATP 500 / WTA 500: Important tournaments that sit just below the Masters 1000 level, offering 500 ranking points. Examples include the Queen’s Club Championships, the Hamburg Open, and the Washington Open.
ATP 250 / WTA 250: The entry-level category on the main tour, featuring a mix of rising stars and established players. These events offer 250 ranking points to the winner.
Indian Wells’ status as a Masters 1000 event guarantees that almost all of the world’s best players will be in attendance, making the question of “who is playing” almost as exciting as the tennis itself. This year is no different, with the full depth of the ATP and WTA tours ready to compete under the desert sun.
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