Siniakova and Townsend Capture Indian Wells Doubles Title

The Czech-American duo defeated Danilina and Krunic in the final.

Mar. 15, 2026 at 12:34pm

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Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend won the women's doubles title at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, defeating Anna Danilina and Aleksandra Krunic 7-6(4), 6-4 in the final. The third-seeded pair went unbeaten throughout the tournament, showcasing a blend of Townsend's power and Siniakova's net play.

Why it matters

This victory marks Townsend's first Indian Wells title and makes her the first African-American champion at the event since Serena Williams in 2001, a historic achievement. For Siniakova, the win adds to her impressive résumé, which includes 34 career doubles titles, 10 Grand Slam doubles trophies, and two Olympic gold medals.

The details

Siniakova and Townsend avenged two previous losses to Danilina and Krunic, including at Roland Garros 2025 and the Australian Open 2026. Their journey to the title included wins over Demi Schuurs and Ellen Perez in the quarterfinals, followed by a commanding victory against top seeds Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini in the semifinals. Strong serving proved decisive in the final, with the pair winning 80% of first-serve points in the opening set and closing out the match with eight consecutive points.

  • The 2026 BNP Paribas Open took place in Indian Wells, California.
  • The women's doubles final was played on March 15, 2026.

The players

Katerina Siniakova

A Czech professional tennis player who has won 34 career doubles titles, including 10 Grand Slam doubles trophies and two Olympic gold medals.

Taylor Townsend

An American professional tennis player who has won 13 doubles titles, including three at the WTA 1000 level. This victory marks her first Indian Wells title and makes her the first African-American champion at the event since Serena Williams in 2001.

Anna Danilina

A professional tennis player from Kazakhstan who was the runner-up in the women's doubles final at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

Aleksandra Krunic

A professional tennis player from Serbia who was the runner-up in the women's doubles final at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open.

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What they’re saying

“Kat and I just really enjoyed every match that we played. I actually looked at the draw, and it was really tough. We played some great teams. I was crying in the locker room because I was sad that I was missing my son's birthday. And she was like, 'Okay, we do this for AJ.'”

— Taylor Townsend

“I was really afraid of how I was going to feel in doubles, but I definitely didn't even think about not stepping on the court. Taylor knew it and was really helpful. She did a lot of work, and we are still two on the same side.”

— Katerina Siniakova

What’s next

Siniakova and Townsend's victory at Indian Wells boosts their chances of qualifying for the WTA Finals in Riyadh, keeping alive their hopes of another season-ending showcase.

The takeaway

Siniakova and Townsend's triumph at the 2026 BNP Paribas Open not only adds to their impressive individual résumés but also reinforces their status as one of the most formidable doubles teams on the WTA tour.