Birrell and Selekhmeteva to face off in Indian Wells opener

The two players will meet for the second time in their careers in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Kimberly Birrell and Oksana Selekhmeteva will square off in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells on Wednesday. This will be the second career meeting between the two players, with Birrell holding a 1-0 head-to-head advantage after winning their previous matchup in the 2025 Australian Open qualifiers.

Why it matters

Both players are looking to make a deep run at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament, which is one of the biggest events on the WTA calendar outside of the Grand Slams. A win here could provide a major boost to their season and ranking.

The details

Birrell, currently ranked No. 69, has a 10-6 record so far in 2026, all on hard courts. She's coming off a semifinal appearance in Austin last week. Selekhmeteva, ranked No. 71, has an 8-5 record this year, also exclusively on hard courts. She reached the quarterfinals in Austin last week.

  • Birrell and Selekhmeteva are scheduled to play on Wednesday, March 4th at 11:00 am local time on STADIUM 6.

The players

Kimberly Birrell

A 24-year-old Australian player who has a career-high ranking of No. 60 and an overall record of 262-216. She has a 194-142 record on hard courts.

Oksana Selekhmeteva

A 22-year-old Russian player who has a career-high ranking of No. 71 and an overall record of 215-110. She has a 71-32 record on hard courts.

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What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident (San Francisco Chronicle)

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

This first-round matchup between Birrell and Selekhmeteva features two rising players looking to make a statement at one of the biggest events on the WTA calendar. The winner will gain valuable momentum and confidence heading into the later rounds of the tournament.