Top Tennis Stars Headline Stacked Indian Wells Doubles Draw

Sinner, Djokovic, Shelton among the big names set to compete in the men's doubles tournament

Mar. 6, 2026 at 5:39am

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The 2026 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells will feature an unprecedented men's doubles draw, with several top singles players teaming up in exciting pairings. Notable duos include Jannik Sinner and Reilly Opelka, Novak Djokovic and Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Ben Shelton with Emilio Nava. Other top teams include Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev, Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien, and Felix Auger-Aliassime with Sebastian Korda.

Why it matters

Traditionally, the top men's singles players have not often competed in doubles events at major tournaments. However, this year's Indian Wells draw is breaking that mold, with many of the sport's biggest stars joining forces in the men's doubles competition. This should create a thrilling tournament and generate increased interest and excitement around doubles tennis.

The details

The 32-team Indian Wells men's doubles draw features several high-profile pairings. Jannik Sinner is teaming up with American Reilly Opelka, a duo that won the 2021 Atlanta Open together. Novak Djokovic is playing with Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is already out of the singles tournament. Other notable teams include Ben Shelton and Emilio Nava, Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev, and Daniil Medvedev with Learner Tien.

  • The 2026 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells will take place from March 8-22.
  • The men's doubles tournament begins on Sunday, March 8.

The players

Jannik Sinner

An Italian professional tennis player who is currently ranked among the top 10 players in the world.

Novak Djokovic

A Serbian professional tennis player who is considered one of the greatest players of all time, having won 22 Grand Slam singles titles.

Ben Shelton

An American professional tennis player who recently burst onto the scene, reaching the quarterfinals of the 2023 Australian Open as a qualifier.

Reilly Opelka

An American professional tennis player known for his towering height and powerful serve.

Stefanos Tsitsipas

A Greek professional tennis player who is currently ranked among the top 5 players in the world.

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What’s next

The men's doubles tournament at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open will begin on Sunday, March 8, with the final scheduled for Sunday, March 22.

The takeaway

The stacked men's doubles draw at the 2026 Indian Wells tournament represents a shift in the sport, with top singles players embracing the doubles format and creating exciting new pairings. This should generate increased interest and excitement around doubles tennis, which has traditionally been overshadowed by the singles game.