Venus Williams makes return to Tennis Paradise on Thursday

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open fundamental draw continues with the extra first-round motion. While the highest seeds await their begins on Friday, the opening slate Thursday includes a heavy American presence and a first-career assembly between a seven-time Grand Slam champion and a French expertise.

Venus Williams returns to California for the primary time in two years

Venus Williams returns to the courtroom simply over every week after her first-round look on the ATX Open in Austin. The 45-year-old Williams is on the lookout for her first match-win of 2026. Making her tenth look at Indian Wells — and her first since 2024 — Williams faces No. 111 Diane Parry within the second match on Stadium 1.

Eight American ladies search for a working begin earlier than high seeds debut

A complete of eight American ladies are scheduled for singles motion Thursday, offering a chance for the house contingent to construct momentum earlier than seeded stars start play. The day options a number of veteran matchups, together with 2020 Australian Open champion Sofia Kenin towards Katerina Siniakova and World No. 48 Peyton Stearns going through Argentina’s Solana Sierra. Other Americans in motion embrace Taylor Townsend, Ashlyn Krueger and Hailey Baptiste.

Jennifer Brady set for first Indian Wells fundamental draw since 2019

Jennifer Brady returns to the Indian Wells fundamental draw for the primary time in seven years as she continues her comeback from a number of knee and foot surgical procedures. Brady, who reached the 2021 Australian Open closing, was sidelined for everything of the 2024 and 2025 seasons. After a semifinal run on the W100 in San Diego final month, she faces Croatia’s Antonia Ruzic within the night session on Stadium 2.

Former Grand Slam junior champion Lilli Tagger makes Indian Wells debut

Austria’s Lilli Tagger makes her first look within the desert following a promising begin to the 2026 season. Tagger, the 2025 Junior French Open singles champion, arrives in Indian Wells after successful the W100 title in Fujairah and reaching the ultimate of the WTA 125 in Mumbai in February. Currently ranked No. 119, the 18-year-old takes on Varvara Gracheva within the third match on Stadium 3.

Indian Wells order of play Thursday

Stadium 1 – Start 11:00

• ATP – Terence Atmane (FRA) vs. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL)

• Not Before 13:00: WTA – Diane Parry (FRA) vs. Venus Williams (USA)

• WTA – Katerina Siniakova (CZE) vs. Sofia Kenin (USA)

• Not Before 18:00: ATP – Sebastian Korda (USA) vs. Francisco Comesana (ARG)

• WTA – Peyton Stearns (USA) vs. Solana Sierra (ARG)

Stadium 2 – Start 11:00

• WTA – Magda Linette (POL) vs. Ashlyn Krueger (USA)

• Not Before 13:00: ATP – Hubert Hurkacz (POL) vs. Aleksandar Kovacevic (USA)

• ATP – [Q] Daniel Merida (ESP) vs. Alex Michelsen (USA)

• Not Before 18:00: WTA – Antonia Ruzic (CRO) vs. Jennifer Brady (USA)

• ATP – [WC] Michael Zheng (USA) vs. Arthur Cazaux (FRA)

Stadium 3 – Start 11:00

• WTA – Marie Bouzkova (CZE) vs. Taylor Townsend (USA)

• WTA – Donna Vekic (CRO) vs. Tereza Valentova (CZE)

• WTA – Varvara Gracheva (FRA) vs. Lilli Tagger (AUT)

• Not Before 15:00: ATP – Nuno Borges (POR) vs. Emilio Nava (USA)

• ATP – Matteo Arnaldi (ITA) vs. [Q] Mackenzie McDonald (USA)

Stadium 4 – Start 11:00

• ATP – Kamil Majchrzak (POL) vs. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard (FRA)

• ATP – Jacob Fearnley (GBR) vs. Damir Dzumhur (BIH)

• ATP – Fabian Marozsan (HUN) vs. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)

• Not Before 15:00: WTA – Katie Volynets (USA) vs. Rebecca Sramkova (SVK)

• WTA – Emiliana Arango (COL) vs. Hailey Baptiste (USA)

Stadium 5 – Start 11:00

• ATP – Alexander Shevchenko (KAZ) vs. [Q] Sho Shimabukuro (JPN)

• [Q] Chun-Hsin Tseng (TPE) vs. Sebastian Baez (ARG)

• ATP – Valentin Royer (FRA) vs. [Q] Benjamin Bonzi (FRA)

• Not Before 15:00: ATP – Juan Manuel Cerundolo (ARG) vs. Botic van de Zandschulp (NED)

• [Q] Francesco Maestrelli (ITA) vs. [Q] Rinky Hijikata (AUS)