The 52nd edition of the tournament was making headlines even before the opening matches. Until the very last moment, it remained unclear whether the players stranded in Dubai because of the conflict in the Middle East—including Russians Karen Khachanov, Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev, and several coaches and journalists—would be able to reach the United States in time.
In the end, First&Red ambassadors Karen Khachanov and Alexander Bublik's compatriots Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev all made it to California after the tournament had already begun. Yet it remains difficult to assess their physical and mental condition heading into their opening matches. They endured several exhausting and uncertain days, a lengthy road trip to Oman, followed by flights to Istanbul and Los Angeles.
Fortunately, their escape from the Arabian Desert to the Californian one has been completed. The trio has already held its first practice sessions, beginning the gradual process of acclimatization and recovery.
Khachanov arguably received the toughest draw of the three. Not only could he meet World No. 1 Jannik Sinner as early as the fourth round, but his opening opponent is also one of the hottest young talents in the game—João Fonseca.
The 19-year-old Brazilian was recently nominated for the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award, although not every tennis fan welcomed the decision. Many believe the ATP is trying to accelerate Fonseca's rise while overlooking the achievements of other rising stars such as Learner Tien and Jakub Menšík in favor of a more commercially attractive Latin American market.
Medvedev finds himself in the top half of the draw, where potential opponents include Taylor Fritz, Novak Djokovic, fellow First&Red ambassador Alexander Bublik, and Carlos Alcaraz. Rublev, meanwhile, could face Félix Auger-Aliassime, Lorenzo Musetti, Alexander Zverev, and, eventually, Sinner.
Last year, Jack Draper claimed the first Masters 1000 title of his career in Indian Wells, comfortably defeating Holger Rune in the final. The Dane is absent this time, as he continues his rehabilitation in Doha following surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles tendon sustained last autumn.
Draper, however, returns as the defending champion. The Briton missed six months because of a stress-related bone injury in his left shoulder, making a successful title defense a daunting task. Still, the 24-year-old insists he would not have come to California if he did not believe he could win again. Since Novak Djokovic secured his fifth Indian Wells title in 2016 and Roger Federer claimed his own fifth in 2017, the tournament has entered an era of unpredictability.
Six different champions have emerged over the last seven editions: Juan Martín del Potro, Dominic Thiem, Cameron Norrie, Taylor Fritz, Carlos Alcaraz, and Jack Draper. Only Alcaraz has managed to win the title twice during that stretch, lifting the trophy in both 2023 and 2024.
The Spaniard has already captured two titles this season, triumphing at the Australian Open and in Doha. The World No. 1 remains unbeaten in 2026 with a perfect 12-0 record, making him the clear favorite heading into the tournament.
The second-leading contender, Jannik Sinner, is still searching for his first final of the year. He fell to the ageless Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals before losing to Jakub Menšík in the Doha quarterfinals.
The 24-year-old Italian is chasing the sixth Masters 1000 title of his career—and the only hard-court Masters trophy still missing from his collection. Indian Wells has never been especially kind to him, with a semifinal appearance remaining his best result.
As for Djokovic, his decision to play in California confirms that he is fully committed to the 2026 season rather than focusing exclusively on the Grand Slams.
The Serbian landed in Alcaraz's half of the draw, with their head-to-head rivalry perfectly balanced at 5-5 despite Djokovic having lost the last two meetings. His inspired run in Melbourne suggested that the 38-year-old may have discovered another sporting renaissance. Indian Wells remains one of Djokovic's favorite tournaments. Alongside Federer, he shares the record of five titles in the California desert.
The Serbian has also completed the prestigious Sunshine Double four times (2011, 2014, 2015, and 2016), winning both Indian Wells and Miami in the same season. Federer accomplished the feat three times (2005, 2006, and 2017). Across his remarkable career, Djokovic has amassed a record 40 Masters 1000 titles. He reached the Miami final last year, while his most recent triumph at this level came in Paris in the autumn of 2023.
