Brooksby and Popyrin to Face Off in Indian Wells Opener

American Jenson Brooksby and Australian Alexei Popyrin will meet for the first time on the ATP Tour at the BNP Paribas Open.

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Jenson Brooksby and Alexei Popyrin are set to square off in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California on Wednesday. This will be the first career meeting between the two young talents, who are both looking to make a deep run at the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event.

Why it matters

The matchup between Brooksby and Popyrin features two rising stars in men's tennis who are looking to establish themselves among the game's elite. A strong performance in Indian Wells could provide a significant boost to the winner's ranking and confidence as they aim to climb the ATP ladder.

The details

Brooksby, the 41st-ranked American, enters the tournament with a 3-5 record in 2026, while the 45th-ranked Popyrin of Australia has a 2-7 mark so far this year. Both players are coming off recent losses in Dubai, with Brooksby falling to Daniil Medvedev and Popyrin losing to Jiri Mensik. This will be the first career clash between the two young guns, who are seeking to make their mark at one of the biggest events outside of the Grand Slams.

  • The match is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 3:00 pm local time.

The players

Jenson Brooksby

A 41st-ranked American player who is looking to build on his previous best result of reaching the 4th round at Indian Wells in 2022.

Alexei Popyrin

A 45th-ranked Australian player who has previously reached the 3rd round at Indian Wells in 2025, his best result at the event.

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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 matchup between two rising stars in men's tennis promises to be an exciting start to the BNP Paribas Open, as both Brooksby and Popyrin look to make their mark and advance deep into the prestigious ATP Masters 1000 event.