Coco Gauff is among the marquee names competing at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, where the WTA and ATP elite have gathered for one of tennis’s biggest combined events. The draw runs in early March on desert hardcourt, a key tune-up before the clay season begins.
On the men’s side, Novak Djokovic moved past Kamil Majchrzak in the second round on March 7, 2026. The 38-year-old Serbian, who captured Olympic gold in Paris, told reporters he wants to defend that title at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
What Is the Indian Wells Tournament?
The BNP Paribas Open ranks just below Grand Slam level in prestige and prize money. Held each March in the California desert, it draws full fields from both tours. Both Gauff and Djokovic are featured competitors in the 2026 edition. The numbers reveal why players treat this stop seriously: prize money sits in the tens of millions across both draws, and ranking points earned here carry real weight into the spring.
The main stadium seats over 16,000 fans, placing it among the largest tennis venues outside the four majors. Hardcourt conditions there reward aggressive baseliners and big servers. Gauff’s two-handed backhand and baseline power fit that profile. Her record on hard courts heading into 2026 reflects a player who dictates from the back of the court with consistent efficiency.
From a scheduling standpoint, the event lands at a useful spot. Players who run deep here carry both ranking points and match sharpness into the European spring. That dual value draws elite competitors every year without fail.
Djokovic beat Majchrzak in the second round on March 7 and used his post-match session to restate his plan to compete in Los Angeles in 2028, when he would be 41 years old. His stated commitment to the 2028 Summer Games gives every match he plays between now and then a broader frame of reference.
No male player in the Open Era has won Olympic singles gold past age 37. Djokovic claimed his Paris medal at 37, so defending it in Los Angeles would push that record further. His conditioning at 38 already sets him apart from most peers his age. Film from his second-round win over Majchrzak shows the same explosive lateral movement that defined his peak years, which makes the 2028 target less far-fetched than it sounds on paper.
Each deep run at a top event chips away at doubts about his fitness. The 2028 timeline adds weight to his current form and gives opponents an extra reason to study how he moves late in matches.
Key Facts From the 2026 Draw
Djokovic, 38, defeated Majchrzak in the second round on March 7, 2026.
Djokovic publicly declared his goal of defending his Paris gold medal at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
The Indian Wells event serves as one of the most important hardcourt stops of the pre-clay swing for both tours.
Coco Gauff is among the top WTA competitors in the 2026 draw, continuing her hardcourt campaign in the California desert.
Gauff enters this draw as one of the WTA’s premier competitors. A strong result delivers ranking points and match rhythm before European clay arrives. Indian Wells has long been a proving ground for American players chasing deep runs at combined events, and the data backs that up: winners here routinely enter the clay swing ranked inside the top five.
Her baseline power and heavy backhand fit the desert surface well. Conditions there play fast and true, which rewards players who can dictate from behind the baseline. Gauff does that as well as anyone in the current WTA field. Her serve percentages and unforced error counts over the coming rounds will give the clearest read on where her game sits right now.
One real tension exists, though. Strong hardcourt form does not always transfer to clay. The gap between the hard-court swing and Roland Garros is compressed, so players must manage workload with care. Gauff’s team will weigh match volume against recovery time as the schedule tightens through April and May.
Indian Wells form matters, but it is one data point in a longer season. How Gauff handles the shift from desert hardcourts to European clay will shape her 2026 Grand Slam calendar more than any single result here. Her draw path over the next several rounds will tell the fuller story of where her 2026 campaign is headed.
With Gauff representing the WTA’s upper tier and Djokovic pushing through the ATP draw at 38, the 2026 event carries two compelling storylines running side by side. Both players arrive with clear goals and enough talent to make deep runs, which is exactly what a combined event of this caliber demands from its headliners.
Is Coco Gauff playing at Indian Wells in 2026?
Coco Gauff is among the top WTA competitors at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The event is held in early March and draws the world’s leading ATP and WTA players to compete on hardcourt.
What is the BNP Paribas Open?
The BNP Paribas Open is a combined ATP and WTA hardcourt tournament held each March in Indian Wells, California. It ranks just below Grand Slam level in prestige and prize money. The main stadium seats over 16,000 fans, making it one of the largest tennis venues outside the four majors.
Is Novak Djokovic playing at Indian Wells in 2026?
Yes. Djokovic competed in the second round of the 2026 edition, defeating Kamil Majchrzak on March 7, 2026. The 38-year-old Serbian also stated his plan to defend his Paris Olympic gold medal at the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles.
When is the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics tennis event?
The 2028 Summer Olympics are scheduled for Los Angeles. Djokovic said in March 2026 that he intends to compete there to defend the gold medal he won in Paris, which would make him 41 years old at the time.
Martina VogelMartina Vogel is a Swiss tennis correspondent who has covered every Grand Slam tournament since 2009. With a degree in sports journalism from the University of Zurich, she brings a European perspective and deep tactical insight to her coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. Martina has conducted sit-down interviews with multiple Grand Slam champions and is known for her detailed match analysis that explores the chess-like strategy within every rally.
