Indian Wells 2026: When could Jack Draper play Novak Djokovic? Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner and Emma Raducanu's paths to final confirmed
By Leon Imber
Published 03/03/2026 at 13:28 GMT
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Indian Wells is upon us, with the draws for the prestigious ATP and WTA 1000 event conducted late on Monday. Jack Draper and Mirra Andreeva will defend their titles in California, the Brit having recently returned from an injury which kept him out of the Australian Open. Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Jannik Sinner, Emma Raducanu and Aryna Sabalenka have had their paths to the final laid out.
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There are still some blanks to be filled, but the Indian Wells draw late on Monday etched out some intriguing collision courses.
British No. 1 Jack Draper will defend the men's crown in California, while Mirra Andreeva will put the women's title on the line, having beaten Aryna Sabalenka over three sets in last year's final.
Last week in Dubai, Draper returned from an arm injury which curtailed his US Open run last year and forced him to pull out of the Australian Open in January.
Last year's Indian Wells title is by far the most prestigious of the three Draper has won in his career thus far.
He beat Holger Rune in straight sets in the final, having dismissed Carlos Alcaraz in the semi-finals, plus home favourites Ben Shelton and Taylor Fritz before that.
Novak Djokovic is set to return to the court for the first time since his spectacular run to the Australian Open final, in which he was defeated over four sets by Alcaraz.
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As the years progress, seeing Djokovic in action away from the Grand Slams becomes an increasingly rarer sight - the 24-time Grand Slam champion undertaking a reduced schedule as he aims to harness his energy towards a record 25th major title.
Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will also be in action at Indian Wells, while Sabalenka is set for her first tournament appearance since her crushing Australian Open final defeat to Elena Rybakina.
And Emma Raducanu - who split with coach Francis Roig following her Australian Open exit - will also return to Indian Wells, reportedly working with Mark Petchey in the lead-up to the tournament, having enjoyed a successful spell under him last season.
When could Draper play Djokovic?
One of the more tantalising segments of the draw sees Draper and Djokovic on an early collision course.
Draper's seeding is down at No. 14 - owing to his recent injury struggles. As such, he is a little closer to Djokovic in the draw than he may ordinarily have been.
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And with both receiving an automatic bye into the second round - like all seeded players in the draw - Draper and Djokovic could meet in the fourth round to determine a quarter-final spot.
Draper will face either Fabian Marozsan or Roberto Bautista Agut in the second round, with a potential third-round clash against No. 19 seed Francisco Cerundolo.
Djokovic, meanwhile, will play the victor of the first-round match between Kamil Majchrzak and Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard, potentially facing No. 31 seed Corentin Moutet in the third round.
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Alcaraz's path to the Indian Wells final
The world No. 1 could not have possibly started the 2026 season in a more perfect manner.
After becoming the youngest player to clinch the career Grand Slam with his maiden Australian Open title, Alcaraz lifted his second trophy of the year in Doha last month.
The Spaniard is a two-time Indian Wells champion, becoming the youngest winner of the event in 2023 before defending his title 12 months later.
As has become a regular occurrence in tournaments in recent years, Alcaraz finds himself on the opposite side of the draw to Sinner, with the world's top two only able to meet in the final on Sunday, March 15.
He will face either Terence Atmane or the now unseeded Grigor Dimitrov in the second round, with the No. 26 seed Arthur Rinderknech in the bracket as a potential third-round opponent.
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Casper Ruud and Valentin Vacherot are the seeds Alcaraz could meet in the fourth round, with Alex de Minaur and 2021 champion Cameron Norrie in the same quarter of the draw, meaning they could face the Spaniard with a semi-final spot on the line.
Due to Draper and Djokovic falling in the other quarter of the draw but in the same half, either of them could potentially set up a semi-final with Alcaraz.
Sinner's path to the Indian Wells final
With Alcaraz, Djokovic and Draper all in the other half of the draw, Sinner's side seems less congested, but with some obvious threats who could be dark horses for the title.
Tomas Martin Etcheverry could be his opponent in the third round, but the Argentinian will first have to face either Stefanos Tsitsipas or Denis Shapovalov in the second round.
Tommy Paul and Karen Khachanov make up the seeds in that quarter of the draw, with the unseeded Joao Fonseca also posing a threat.
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Jakub Mensik, who defeated Sinner in their quarter-final clash in Qatar, could meet the Italian at the same stage of Indian Wells. But in order for the Czech to get there, home favourites Ben Shelton and Learner Tien would have to exit.
Alexander Zverev, who at times played lights-out tennis to reach the Australian Open semi-finals, will be among the favourites in California, and as a result of his No. 4 seeding, cannot face Sinner until the semi-finals.
Raducanu's path to the Indian Wells final
Following her coaching split, Raducanu has gained some useful minutes on court as she reached the final of the Transylvania Open, where she was beaten by Sorana Cirstea, before her involvement in the Middle East swing.
Raducanu's Qatar Open first-round match ultimately ended with the Brit retiring after undergoing a blood pressure check, and she was defeated in the first round in Dubai against Antonia Ruzic.
But having reportedly reunited with Petchey, who helped guide her to the quarter-finals of Queen's and the Citi Open semi-finals last year, there will be confidence she can enjoy a strong run in California.
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In her way, though, stands the imperious Amanda Anisimova, who has been a regular in the latter stages of recent Grand Slams.
They could meet in the third round, providing both come through their second-round matches.
Victoria Mboko and Anna Kalinskaya are the seeded players Raducanu could potentially meet in the last 16, with Aryna Sabalenka, Naomi Osaka and Australian Open breakout star Iva Jovic looming for the quarters.
Who could Sabalenka, Gauff, Swiatek play?
Landing in the same half of the draw as Sabalenka, Coco Gauff could face the world No. 1 in the semi-finals should they both reach that stage.
Philippines sensation Alexandra Eala is the seeded star who could meet Gauff in the third round.
Jasmine Paolini is the highest other seed in Gauff's quarter, with the pair potentially on a collision course for the quarter-final clash.
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Meanwhile, Maya Joint will be hoping to book a third-round clash against Sabalenka, in a stacked quarter of the draw which includes Osaka and Jovic.
On the other side of the draw, the seeded players in Iga Swiatek's immediate wake are Maria Sakkari, Karolina Muchova and Zheng Qinwen.
Defending champion Andreeva and Australian Open semi-finalist Elina Svitolina potentially await in the quarter-finals.
Watch and stream live tennis - including the 2026 French Open - on TNT Sports and discovery+
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