Seidel and Zakharova to clash in Indian Wells opener

German Ella Seidel and Russian Anastasia Zakharova meet in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open

Published on Mar. 4, 2026

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Ella Seidel and Anastasia Zakharova will face 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 Seidel holding a 1-0 head-to-head advantage after winning their previous encounter in 2025. Zakharova enters the match as the slight favorite according to the odds, but Seidel will be looking to even the score and advance in the tournament.

Why it matters

This first-round matchup features two rising players looking to make their mark at one of the premier events on the WTA tour. Seidel and Zakharova are both ranked inside the top 100, and a strong performance in Indian Wells could boost their chances of breaking into the top 50 by the end of the season.

The details

Seidel, ranked No. 83, is coming off a loss in the second round of the Dubai tournament, while Zakharova, ranked No. 86, had to navigate the qualifying draw to reach the main draw in Indian Wells. In their previous meeting, Seidel came from behind to defeat Zakharova 3-6, 6-3, 6-3 in the qualifying rounds of a tournament in Seoul in 2025.

  • The match is scheduled for Wednesday, March 4th at 2:00 pm local time on STADIUM 9.

The players

Ella Seidel

A 23-year-old German player ranked No. 83 in the world, with a 6-7 record so far in 2026 and a career-high ranking of No. 78.

Anastasia Zakharova

A 24-year-old Russian player ranked No. 86 in the world, with an 8-7 record in 2026 and a career-high ranking of No. 79.

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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)

What’s next

The winner of this match will face either Iga Swiatek or Coco Gauff in the second round.

The takeaway

This first-round clash between Seidel and Zakharova represents an opportunity for two talented young players to make a statement and potentially set up a high-profile matchup in the next round against either Swiatek or Gauff.