James Duckworth to face Dalibor Svrcina in Indian Wells opener

The two players will meet on Wednesday at 2:00 pm local time on STADIUM 7

Mar. 4, 2026 at 8:44pm

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Australian tennis player James Duckworth will take on Czech Republic's Dalibor Svrcina in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California on Wednesday. The match is scheduled to start at 2:00 pm local time and will be played on STADIUM 7.

Why it matters

This early-round matchup between Duckworth and Svrcina will be an interesting test for both players as they look to make a deep run at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament. Duckworth, currently ranked world no. 83, will be seeking to bounce back after a recent loss to Svrcina in Acapulco, while Svrcina, ranked no. 109, will aim to build on his recent victories over Krueger and Kopriva to advance in the draw.

The details

Duckworth and Svrcina have faced each other only once before, with Svrcina winning their previous encounter 6-4, 6-1 in the first round of the Abierto Mexicano Telcel tournament in Acapulco last month. Svrcina has compiled a 5-4 win-loss record so far in 2026, while Duckworth has a 3-6 match record this season.

  • The match is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4, 2026 at 2:00 pm local time.

The players

James Duckworth

An Australian tennis player currently ranked world no. 83.

Dalibor Svrcina

A Czech tennis player currently ranked world no. 109 who recently defeated Duckworth in Acapulco.

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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

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

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

What’s next

The winner of the Duckworth-Svrcina match will advance to the second round of the BNP Paribas Open, where they will face the victor of the match between Dragos Nicolae Madaras and the winner of a yet-to-be-determined first-round encounter.

The takeaway

This early-round clash between Duckworth and Svrcina will provide an intriguing test for both players as they look to make their mark at the prestigious Indian Wells tournament. With Svrcina holding a head-to-head advantage over Duckworth, the match promises to be a closely contested affair as the two competitors vie for a spot in the next round.