Top Tennis Stars Arrive at Indian Wells for 2026 BNP Paribas Open

Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, and Elena Rybakina set the stage for a highly anticipated tournament

Feb. 27, 2026 at 4:39am

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Top women's tennis players Emma Raducanu, Naomi Osaka, and Elena Rybakina have all arrived in Indian Wells, California ahead of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open. The trio have had varying degrees of success at the prestigious tournament in the past, with Osaka winning the title in 2018 and Rybakina claiming the trophy in 2023. As the season's first major WTA 1000 event in the United States, the Indian Wells tournament is generating significant buzz leading up to the action on the courts.

Why it matters

The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is considered one of the most important non-Grand Slam events on the women's tennis calendar. The arrival of top stars like Raducanu, Osaka, and Rybakina signals the start of an exciting tournament that could have major implications for the 2026 season. The players' past performances and current form lines at Indian Wells will be closely watched as they jockey for position ahead of the Grand Slam events.

The details

Emma Raducanu has gradually improved her results at Indian Wells, reaching the fourth round in 2023 before a first-round exit in 2025. She now returns ranked back inside the top 25. Naomi Osaka won the Indian Wells title in 2018 but has struggled with consistency at the event in recent years, including early round losses in 2022 and 2025. Meanwhile, Elena Rybakina burst onto the scene at Indian Wells in 2023, winning the title by defeating both world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka. Rybakina arrives in 2026 as the reigning Australian Open champion.

  • Raducanu, Osaka, and Rybakina have all arrived in Indian Wells ahead of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, which is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks.
  • Raducanu made her Indian Wells debut in 2021, while Osaka won the title in 2018 and Rybakina claimed the trophy in 2023.

The players

Emma Raducanu

A British professional tennis player who has gradually improved her results at the Indian Wells tournament, reaching the fourth round in 2023 before a first-round exit in 2025. She now returns ranked back inside the top 25.

Naomi Osaka

A Japanese professional tennis player who won the Indian Wells title in 2018 but has struggled with consistency at the event in recent years, including early round losses in 2022 and 2025. She has climbed back into the top 15 after a semifinal run at the 2025 US Open and a third-round finish at the 2026 Australian Open.

Elena Rybakina

A Kazakhstani professional tennis player who burst onto the scene at Indian Wells in 2023, winning the title by defeating both world No. 1 Iga Swiatek and world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka. She arrives in 2026 as the reigning Australian Open champion.

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What they’re saying

“We're excited to see the top players arrive in Indian Wells and set the stage for what promises to be an incredible tournament.”

— BNP Paribas Open, Tournament Organizers

What’s next

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open is scheduled to take place in the coming weeks, with the draw and schedule to be announced in the days leading up to the tournament.

The takeaway

The arrival of Raducanu, Osaka, and Rybakina in Indian Wells signals the start of an exciting and highly anticipated tournament that could have major implications for the 2026 tennis season. The players' past performances and current form lines at this prestigious event will be closely watched as they look to make their mark on the WTA Tour.