Santa Barbara's Kayla Day wins first round match at Indian Wells

Day defeated Francesca Jones 6-3, 6-1 and will next face 6-time major champion Iga Swiatek.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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Santa Barbara pro tennis player Kayla Day defeated Francesca Jones 6-3, 6-1 in a first round match at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California. The 26-year-old Day will next face #2 seed Iga Swiatek, a 6-time major champion, on Saturday.

Why it matters

Kayla Day is a rising star from Santa Barbara who has been ranked as high as 84th in the world and has reached the third round at Indian Wells in the past. Her first round win sets up an exciting matchup against one of the top players in women's tennis.

The details

In the first round match, Day defeated Francesca Jones in straight sets, 6-3, 6-1. Day will now face off against #2 seed Iga Swiatek, a 6-time major champion, in the next round on Saturday.

  • The first round match took place on March 5, 2026.
  • Day will face Swiatek in the next round on March 7, 2026.

The players

Kayla Day

A 26-year-old pro tennis player from Santa Barbara who has been ranked as high as 84th in the world and has reached the third round at Indian Wells in the past.

Iga Swiatek

The #2 seed at the BNP Paribas Open, a 6-time major champion.

Francesca Jones

Kayla Day's first round opponent at the BNP Paribas Open.

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What’s next

Kayla Day will face #2 seed Iga Swiatek in the second round on March 7, 2026.

The takeaway

Kayla Day's first round win at Indian Wells sets up an exciting matchup against one of the top players in women's tennis, as she continues to make her mark on the pro circuit.