<p>The biggest tennis tournament outside the four Grand Slams returns to the California desert from March 1-15, with defending champions Jack Draper and Mirra Andreeva looking to hold off a loaded field headlined by Australian Open winner Carlos Alcaraz.</p> <p>The BNP Paribas Open is the first Masters 1000 event of the season and it rarely disappoints. Over 500,000 fans packed the Indian Wells Tennis Garden last year, and the 2026 edition shapes up as one of the most competitive in recent memory.</p> <p>Alcaraz arrives as the man to beat after completing the career Grand Slam in Melbourne, while Jannik Sinner sits at world No. 2 after his doping suspension kept him out of Indian Wells in 2025.</p> <p>Novak Djokovic, back in the top three at age 38, will fancy one more crack at a sixth Indian Wells title. On the women's side, newly crowned Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina and world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka headline a stacked draw.</p> <p>For Australian punters, this is two weeks of late-night tennis gold with matches running deep into the early morning hours AEDT. If you're new to wagering on the sport, our guide on <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/punter-iq/guide/how-to-bet-on-tennis">how to bet on tennis</a> is a great place to start.</p> <h2>Key Event Details</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Tournament: </strong>BNP Paribas Open (ATP Masters 1000 / WTA 1000)</li> <li><strong>Dates: </strong>March 2-15, 2026 (qualifying from March 2-4, main draw from March 4)</li> <li><strong>Venue:</strong> Indian Wells Tennis Garden, Indian Wells, California</li> <li><strong>Surface: </strong>Outdoor hard court (Laykold)</li> <li><strong>Draw size: </strong>96 singles (men's and women's)</li> <li><strong>Prize money (2025): </strong>US$19.39 million combined (~A$30.5M). Men's singles champion: US$1,201,125. Women's singles champion: US$1,127,500. 2026 figures expected to increase.</li> <li><strong>Ranking points: </strong>1,000 (winner)</li> <li><strong>2025 champions:</strong> Jack Draper (men's), Mirra Andreeva (women's)</li> </ul> <h2>How to Watch From Australia</h2> <p>Indian Wells runs on Pacific Time, which is 19 hours behind AEDT (18 hours after March 8 when PDT begins). That means day sessions typically start around 4:00am-5:00am AEDT and evening sessions from roughly 7:00am-8:00am AEDT.</p> <p>The semifinals and finals are scheduled for prime evening slots in California, which translates to mid-morning Sunday action in Australia.</p> <p>Check Stan Sport, beIN Sports and Kayo Sports for broadcast details closer to the tournament. Sportsbet also offers live streaming for funded accounts on selected tennis matches, so that's another option if you've already got money in the game.</p> <h2>Men's Draw: Alcaraz the Clear Favourite</h2> <p>Carlos Alcaraz enters Indian Wells riding the highest of highs. The Spaniard's 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 7-5 demolition of Djokovic in the Australian Open final made him the youngest man to complete the career Grand Slam at 22 years and eight months.</p> <p>He's won Indian Wells twice before (2023, 2024) and would have been chasing a three-peat last year if not for Jack Draper's brilliant run. The world No. 1 has 13,650 ranking points and holds a commanding lead at the top.</p> <p>Alcaraz will be the clear market favourite, and rightly so. The conditions in the desert suit his game perfectly. The slower-paced hard courts allow his incredible defence and baseline movement to shine, and the dry desert air gives his forehand even more bite. Understanding <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/misc/other-news/tennis-surfaces-clay--vs-grass--vs-hard-court-differences">tennis surfaces explained</a> can help you appreciate why certain players thrive in specific conditions.</p> <h3>Sinner Returns to Indian Wells</h3> <p>Jannik Sinner missed the 2025 edition entirely due to his doping suspension, which ran from February to early May.</p> <p>The Italian is back at world No. 2 with 9,930 points and arrives having lost to Djokovic in five sets in the Australian Open semifinals, ending his run of five consecutive Grand Slam finals.</p> <p>He'll be desperate to make up for lost time at a tournament he's never won. Sinner's precise baseline game and relentless consistency make him a serious threat on these courts.</p> <h3>Djokovic's Desert Farewell?</h3> <p>At 38, Djokovic is a five-time Indian Wells champion and climbed back to No. 3 in the world after his Australian Open final run.</p> <p>The man still has the game to win any tournament on any surface. His experience in the desert is unmatched. But the physical toll of back-to-back two-week events is significant at his age, and he's defending zero points from February.</p> <p>Whether he enters Indian Wells or takes a breather before the clay swing remains to be seen.</p> <h3>Other Men's Contenders</h3> <p>Alexander Zverev (No. 4) reached the Australian Open semifinals and will be seeded highly, though he's never won Indian Wells.</p> <p>Jack Draper (No. 6) is the defending champion and his powerful lefty game travels well to the desert. The Brit smashed Holger Rune 6-2, 6-2 in last year's final and earned his first Masters 1000 title. He'll have a target on his back but also 1,000 points to defend.</p> <p>Taylor Fritz (No. 7) is always dangerous on American hard courts and won Indian Wells back in 2022.</p> <p>Alex de Minaur (No. 7) reached the Australian Open quarterfinals for the second straight year, pushing Alcaraz before falling in straight sets. The Demon finished 2025 with the most hard-court wins on the men's tour, so he'll be one to track closely for Aussie punters.</p> <p>Daniil Medvedev (No. 9) has been runner-up at Indian Wells twice in recent years but hasn't looked his best early in 2026. Lorenzo Musetti (No. 10) hit a career-high No. 5 after the Australian Open and his elegant shotmaking could cause problems on the slower Indian Wells surface.</p> <h2>Women's Draw: Rybakina's Rising Stock</h2> <p>The women's draw is absolutely loaded. Elena Rybakina enters as the form player after stunning Sabalenka in the Australian Open final, rallying from a 3-0 deficit in the deciding set to claim her second Grand Slam title.</p> <p>She's risen to world No. 3 and her powerful, flat-hitting game is perfectly suited to the Indian Wells hard courts. Rybakina won Indian Wells in 2023, so she knows how to win in the desert.</p> <p>Aryna Sabalenka (No. 1) will be hurting after blowing a 3-0 lead in the third set of the Australian Open final. She's still the most dominant force in women's tennis on pure ball-striking ability, but that Melbourne collapse will linger. She'll want to make a statement at Indian Wells.</p> <p>Iga Swiatek (No. 2) won Indian Wells in 2022 and 2024 and has reached four consecutive semifinals in the desert. The Pole's heavy topspin and relentless baseline game make her a perennial threat, though she fell to Andreeva in the 2025 semis and lost in the Australian Open quarterfinals to Svitolina.</p> <p>Amanda Anisimova (No. 4) hit a career-high No. 3 in January and is firmly established in the world's top five. Coco Gauff (No. 5) will look to bounce back from a frustrating Australian Open exit.</p> <p>Defending champion Mirra Andreeva (No. 7) turned 18 only a few months ago, and became the youngest Indian Wells champion since Serena Williams in 1999 last year. She's got the talent to go back-to-back.</p> <h2>Betting Markets on Sportsbet</h2> <p>Indian Wells offers a massive range of betting markets on Sportsbet. Here's what to expect.</p> <h3>Outright Winner</h3> <p>The biggest market. Pick who wins the entire tournament. Alcaraz will likely open shortest on the men's side, with Sinner, Djokovic and Draper behind him. On the women's side, Sabalenka, Rybakina and Swiatek will head the market. Check the latest <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/betting/tennis/outrights">tennis outrights</a> for current pricing.</p> <p>Outright betting is available well before the tournament starts, so early movers can lock in value before the draw is released.</p> <h3>Match Betting</h3> <p>Bet on individual match winners. Available once the draw drops and updated throughout the tournament. This is where most of the action happens at Indian Wells, with 190+ main draw matches across the men's and women's singles.</p> <h3>Set Betting and Handicaps</h3> <p>Predict the exact set score (e.g., 2-0 or 2-1 in men's best-of-three) or use set handicaps. In early rounds with heavy mismatches, set betting can offer solid value on straight-set wins.</p> <h3>Player Props and Specials</h3> <p>Sportsbet typically offers props like total aces, games over/under, and quarter of the draw markets. Keep an eye out for head-to-head specials if blockbuster matchups materialise in the later rounds.</p> <h2>Frequently Asked Questions</h2> <h3>What time does Indian Wells start in Australia?</h3> <p>Day sessions typically begin around 4:00am-5:00am AEDT, with evening sessions from approximately 7:00am-8:00am AEDT. The finals are usually held on a Sunday in California, which translates to Monday morning Australian time.</p> <h3>Is Indian Wells a Grand Slam?</h3> <p>No. Indian Wells is an ATP Masters 1000 and WTA 1000 event, one tier below the Grand Slams. It's often called the 'fifth Grand Slam' due to its size, prestige and attendance (over 500,000 fans in 2025). Matches are best-of-three sets for both men and women, unlike Grand Slams where men play best-of-five. If you're curious about <a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/tennis/tennis-news/how-tennis-scoring-works">how tennis scoring works</a>, we've got you covered.</p> <h3>How much prize money is at Indian Wells?</h3> <p>The 2025 combined prize pool was US$19.39 million (~A$30.5M), with the men's singles champion taking home US$1.2 million and the women's champion US$1.13 million. The 2026 figures are expected to increase slightly.</p> <h3>Who has won Indian Wells the most times?</h3> <p>On the men's side, Novak Djokovic leads with five titles (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2016). Roger Federer also won five times. For the women, Martina Navratilova holds the record with three titles. Among active players, Swiatek has two titles (2022, 2024).</p> <h3>Can I bet on Indian Wells on Sportsbet?</h3> <p>Yes. Sportsbet offers comprehensive tennis markets for Indian Wells, including outright winners, match betting, set betting, handicaps, and various player props. Markets open well before the tournament begins.</p> <h2>Keep Reading</h2> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/australian-open/news/australian-open-betting-guide">Everything you need to know before betting on the Australian Open</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/tennis/tennis-news/tennis-playing-styles-explained">The different playing styles that define modern tennis</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.sportsbet.com.au/huddle/misc/other-news/hawk-eye-tennis-explained">How Hawk-Eye changed tennis forever</a></li> </ul>