- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
BNP Paribas Open Hopes to Entice Top Players with $1M Mixed Doubles Prize
Tournament organizers aim to keep stars in Indian Wells for second week with lucrative mixed doubles event
Mar. 9, 2026 at 1:22am
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
The 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is upping the prize money for the mixed doubles event from $250,000 to $1 million, in an effort to entice top players to stick around for the second week of the tournament even if they've been eliminated from singles. While unlikely to actually happen, the article explores three dream mixed doubles pairings that would create must-watch matches: Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff, and Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek.
Why it matters
Mixed doubles has traditionally been an afterthought at major tennis tournaments, but the BNP Paribas Open is hoping a massive increase in prize money will elevate the event and keep top stars in Indian Wells for the second week. Attracting high-profile pairings could generate significant buzz and excitement around the mixed doubles competition.
The details
The BNP Paribas Open is increasing the mixed doubles prize money from $250,000 to $1 million, in the hopes of enticing players who have been eliminated from singles to stick around and compete in the mixed event during the second week of the tournament. While the article acknowledges these dream pairings are unlikely to actually materialize, it explores three potential matchups that would create must-see tennis: Novak Djokovic and Aryna Sabalenka, Jannik Sinner and Coco Gauff, and Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Świątek.
- The 2026 BNP Paribas Open is scheduled for March 9-22, 2026.
The players
Novak Djokovic
A Serbian professional tennis player and one of the greatest players of all time, known for his exceptional return skills and mental toughness.
Aryna Sabalenka
A Belarusian professional tennis player, renowned for her powerful groundstrokes and aggressive playing style.
Jannik Sinner
An Italian professional tennis player, recognized for his calm, precise, and efficient playing approach.
Coco Gauff
An American professional tennis player, admired for her fearless competitiveness and exceptional athleticism.
Carlos Alcaraz
A Spanish professional tennis player, known for his creative shot-making and improvisational skills.
Iga Świątek
A Polish professional tennis player, renowned for her elite focus, efficiency, and defensive brilliance.
What’s next
The tournament organizers will be closely monitoring player interest and registration for the mixed doubles event in the lead-up to the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, hoping to secure some of the dream pairings discussed in the article.
The takeaway
The BNP Paribas Open's decision to significantly increase the mixed doubles prize money to $1 million reflects a broader effort by tennis tournaments to elevate the status and excitement around this event. While the dream pairings mentioned may not materialize, the potential for high-profile mixed doubles matchups could generate significant buzz and interest around the tournament.
