Rybakina, Pegula, Keys and Swiatek to Play on Monday at BNP Paribas Open

Top Women's Tennis Stars Headline Monday's Action at Indian Wells

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California will feature several marquee matchups on Monday, March 9, 2026. World No. 3 Elena Rybakina will face off against No. 28 Marta Kostyuk, while No. 5 Jessica Pegula takes on No. 26 Jelena Ostapenko. No. 15 Madison Keys meets No. 54 Sonay Kartal, and World No. 2 Iga Swiatek battles No. 34 Maria Sakkari.

Why it matters

These high-profile third-round clashes at one of the premier events on the WTA Tour will provide an early test for several top players as they vie for the prestigious Indian Wells title. The results could have major implications for the rest of the 2026 season and the race to finish the year at the top of the rankings.

The details

Rybakina, the 2023 Indian Wells champion, holds a 3-1 head-to-head advantage over Kostyuk. Pegula, a finalist in Dubai earlier this year, leads Ostapenko 3-2 in their previous matchups. Keys, a former Indian Wells semifinalist, is 1-0 against Kartal, while Swiatek and Sakkari have split their 8 prior meetings 4-4.

  • The matches are scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Elena Rybakina

A Kazakhstani player ranked No. 3 in the world, Rybakina has a 13-3 record in 2026 and won the Indian Wells title in 2023.

Marta Kostyuk

A Ukrainian player ranked No. 28, Kostyuk has a 5-2 record in 2026 and reached the final in Brisbane earlier this year.

Jessica Pegula

An American player ranked No. 5, Pegula has a 14-2 record in 2026 and was a finalist in Dubai this season.

Jelena Ostapenko

A Latvian player ranked No. 26, Ostapenko has a 7-6 record in 2026 and reached the semifinals in Doha.

Madison Keys

An American player ranked No. 15, Keys has a 7-3 record in 2026 and was a semifinalist at Indian Wells last year.

Sonay Kartal

A British player ranked No. 54, Kartal has an 11-5 record in 2026 and reached the 4th round at Indian Wells last year.

Iga Swiatek

A Polish player ranked No. 2, Swiatek has a 10-4 record in 2026 and won the Indian Wells title in 2022 and 2024.

Maria Sakkari

A Greek player ranked No. 34, Sakkari has an 8-4 record in 2026 and reached the semifinals in Doha this year.

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What they’re saying

“These third-round matches at Indian Wells are going to be must-see tennis. The depth and talent on the women's tour right now is incredible.”

— Martina Navratilova, Tennis Hall of Famer (ESPN)

“I'm really looking forward to the challenge of facing Iga again. We've had some great battles over the years and I'm confident I can come out on top this time.”

— Maria Sakkari (Instagram)

What’s next

The winners of these third-round matches will advance to the Round of 16 at the BNP Paribas Open, which will be played on Wednesday, March 11.

The takeaway

The stacked lineup of matches on Monday at Indian Wells showcases the incredible depth and competitiveness of the current women's tennis landscape. Fans are in for a treat with these high-stakes clashes between some of the sport's biggest stars.