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The women’s singles draw for Indian Wells is officially out — and Aryna Sabalenka is set to lead a stacked top half at the WTA 1000 event.

World No 1 Sabalenka is back in action for the first time since the Australian Open, and will start her Indian Wells campaign against either Alycia Parks or a qualifier in round two.

The two-time Indian Wells runner-up could then face 29th seed Maja Joint in round three, before a potential fourth round versus 16th seed Naomi Osaka, a fellow four-time Grand Slam champion.

Osaka is also in action for the first time since the Australian Open, having pulled out midway through the event due to injury.

Sabalenka could then face a quarter-final against sixth seed Amanda Anisimova and a semi-final against fourth seed Coco Gauff, two women she has forged significant rivalries with in recent years.

Anisimova could face 25th seed and close friend Emma Raducanu in the third round, before a potential fourth round clash against 10th seed Victoria Mboko.

Gauff could face 2019 champion Bianca Andreescu in round two, and then 31st seed Alex Eala in round three, a rematch of their Dubai Championships clash from last month.

The fourth seed is later projected to face seventh seed Jasmine Paolini in the quarter-final, before a potential meeting against top seed and world No 1 Sabalenka.

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The bottom half of the draw is perhaps most notable for pitting second seed Iga Swiatek and eighth seed Mirra Andreeva in the same quarter, twelve months after Andreeva beat the world No 2 on her way to the title.

Swiatek could face 32nd seed Maria Sakkari — who she beat in the 2022 and 2024 Indian Wells final — in round three, and could then face a tough fourth round versus 13th seed Karolina Muchova.

The Pole is then projected to face reigning champion Andreeva in the last eight, though the Russian does not have the kindest of draws early on.

Andreeva could face 27th seed Leylah Fernandez in the third round, before a projected round four against ninth seed Elina Svitolina — who beat her in the fourth round of the Australian Open in January.

Either Swiatek or Andreeva could potentially face third seed and reigning Australian Open champion Elena Rybakina in the semi-final, with the Kazakh looking to regain the Indian Wells title she won in 2023.

Rybakina could face 28th seed Marta Kostyuk and then face a tough fourth round versus 15th seed Madison Keys, who was a semi-finalist at this event twelve months ago.

The Kazakh is then projected to face a quarter-final versus fifth seed and recent Dubai champion Jessica Pegula, who — like Rybakina — has been in fine form so far in 2026.

However, the American does not have an easy draw in Tennis Paradise, with Pegula potentially set to face 26th seed Jelena Ostapenko in round three and then 12th seed Belinda Bencic in round four.

Projected women’s singles quarter-finals

(1) Aryna Sabalenka vs (6) Amanda Anisimova
(4) Coco Gauff vs (7) Jasmine Paolini
(5) Jessica Pegula vs (3) Elena Rybakina
(8) Mirra Andreeva vs (2) Iga Swiatek

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Read Next: Indian Wells Open withdrawal list: 15 players out as Medvedev, Rublev, Khachanov could follow

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Main draw action at the 2026 Indian Wells Open will get underway on Wednesday 4 March, and 15 players have already withdrawn across both singles events.

Indian Wells is the first ATP 1000 event of the season and the third WTA 1000 after tournaments in Doha and Dubai in February.

The combined ATP/WTA tournament, which is staged at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in the Californian desert, is one of the most prestigious events in the sport outside of the four Grand Slams.

Indian Wells is the first leg of the ‘Sunshine Double’ in the United States, with the Miami Open — held later in March — the second leg.

This year’s tournament will conclude on 15 March with the women’s and men’s singles finals.

WTA Indian Wells withdrawal list

Six players have pulled out of the women’s singles event in Indian Wells — all of whom would have been unseeded.

Lois Boisson is the highest-ranked woman to withdraw, while two-time major singles champion Barbora Krejcikova is the most decorated.

• Lois Boisson (world No 37) – replaced by Oksana Selekhmeteva
• Elisabetta Cocciaretto (world No 42) – replaced by Camila Osorio
• Barbora Krejcikova (world No 53) – replaced by Zhang Shuai
• Veronika Kudermetova (world No 56) – replaced by Zeynep Sonmez
• Daria Kasatkina (world No 60) – replaced by Rebecca Sramkova
• Wang Yafan (world No 355 – entered with protected ranking) – replaced by Ella Seidel

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ATP Indian Wells withdrawal list

Nine players have withdrawn from the men’s singles event, two of whom would have been seeded: Holger Rune and Tallon Griekspoor.

• Holger Rune (world No 18) – replaced by Quentin Halys
• Tallon Griekspoor (world No 25) –  replaced by Roberto Bautista Agut
• Jaume Munar (world No 36) – replaced by Aleksandar Kovacevic
• Tomas Machac (world No 50) – replaced by Emilio Nava
• Lorenzo Sonego (world No 61) – replaced by James Duckworth
• Eliot Spizzirri (world No 78) – replaced by Alexander Shevchenko
• Alexandre Muller (world No 81) – replaced by Jan-Lennard Struff
• Filip Misolic (world No 84) – replaced by Adam Walton
• Shang Juncheng (world No 261 – entered with protected ranking) – replaced by Juan Manuel Cerundolo

Trio of seeded ATP stars could withdraw

There is serious doubt over Daniil Medvedev, Karen Khachanov and Andrey Rublev participating in Indian Wells. Medvedev, Khachanov and Rublev are currently projected to be seeded 11th, 16th and 17th at the Masters event.

The Russian trio all competed at the Dubai Championships last week, and they are still stuck in the United Arab Emirates’ capital amid conflict in the Middle East.

The UAE closed its airspace on Saturday, and the situation would need to change swiftly for Medvedev, Rublev and Khachanov to leave on flights to travel to the United States.

It seems likely that the trio may be forced to withdraw from Indian Wells, although they all remain on the entry list as things stand.

READ NEXT: Daniil Medvedev gives ‘unusual’ update as he is unable to leave Dubai due to conflict

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Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev are among the ATP Tour players currently stuck in Dubai due to uncertainty in the Middle East — but the Russian duo reportedly have a plan to leave.

World No 11 Medvedev and world No 17 Rublev were both in action at the Dubai Tennis Championships this week, with the former lifting the title and the latter reaching the semi-final.

However, the Russian duo and a string of other ATP players and staff are now stuck in the city due to the growing conflict in the Middle East, with flights from Dubai, other cities in the UAE, and across the region as a whole suspended due to safety concerns.

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While it is a trivial concern in the grand scheme of things, ATP players such as Medvedev and Rublev now face the issue of trying to safely leave the city to head to the United States, with action at the Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells this week.

However, both Medvedev and Rublev now reportedly have a plan to attempt to leave Dubai and make their way to California.

Medvedev and Rublev’s plan

As per the Spanish sports website Marca, Medvedev and Rublev are now reportedly set to head to Oman by car.

Oman borders the United Arab Emirates, and the border between the two countries is around a 90-minute drive from Dubai, though concerns have been raised about heavy traffic at the border crossing.

However, Oman is currently one of the countries in the Middle East with the least risk amid the growing conflict, and likely represents the safest and quickest option for people to leave the area.

According to Marca, Medvedev and Rublev are reportedly set to drive to Oman, where they will take a private jet to leave the country, most likely flying to Turkey and Armenia.

From there, the two will reportedly then fly to California for action in Indian Wells, with action at the Masters 1000 event set to begin on Wednesday, March 4.

However, as seeded players in the men’s singles draw, neither of the two Russians will be in action until either Friday or Saturday due to opening-round byes.

ATP statement

The ATP has previously released a statement, updating those concerned about the ongoing situation.

It wrote: “The ATP is closely monitoring the evolving situation in the Middle East and remains in regular contact with our players, their support teams and relevant local authorities.

“The health, safety and wellbeing of our players, staff and tournament personnel is our priority. We can confirm that a small number of players and team members remain in Dubai following the conclusion of the recent ATP 500 event. They and their teams are being accommodated in the tournament’s official hotels, where their immediate needs are being fully supported.

“We are in direct communication with those affected, as well as with tournament organisers and security advisors. At this stage, travel arrangements remain subject to ongoing assessment in line with airline operations and official guidance. We will continue to provide appropriate support to ensure players and their teams can depart safely when conditions allow.

“We will continue to assess developments and provide updates as appropriate.”

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The post Daniil Medvedev and Andrey Rublev’s ‘escape plan’ from Dubai revealed – report appeared first on Tennis365.

Daniil Medvedev is one of the ATP players still stuck in Dubai amid conflict in the Middle East, and there has now been an update on Felix Auger-Aliassime’s status.

On Saturday, the United States and Israel launched military action on Iran, and the latter retaliated by attacking various American bases in the region, including in the United Arab Emirates.

The Dubai Championships singles final was still due to go ahead on Saturday night, but Medvedev was awarded the title without taking to the court as his scheduled opponent Tallon Griekspoor pulled out before the match due to a hamstring injury.

The situation in the Middle East led the UAE to close its airspace at 1pm local time on Saturday, which has prevented over 40 ATP players, staff and officials from leaving Dubai on flights after the ATP 500 tournament.

Medvedev, Griekspoor, and Rublev — who lost to Griekspoor in the semi-finals on Friday — are among the players still in the UAE’s capital.

Auger-Aliassime is not among players still in Dubai

Auger-Aliassime was beaten by Medvedev in the first semi-final at the ATP 500 event on Friday.

The Montreal Gazette has reported that Auger-Aliassime is not among the players stranded in Dubai following the tournament.

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Auger-Aliassime’s agent Olivier van Lindonk confirmed to The Montreal Gazette that the world No 9 and his team safely departed Dubai on one of the last flights to leave the city before the airspace closed on Saturday.

Auger-Aliassime set to play in Indian Wells

The Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, California is the next stop on the ATP Tour calendar, with main draw action at Tennis Paradise getting underway on Wednesday 4 March.

The chances of Medvedev, Rublev and the other ATP players who are still in Dubai competing in Indian Wells appear increasingly slim. Griekspoor has withdrawn from the tournament due to injury, while Medvedev and Rublev are still on the entry list as things stand.

Auger-Aliassime, though, is set to feature in Indian Wells, where he will be the ninth seed.

READ NEXT: ATP Rankings Race To Turin: Daniil Medvedev soars to 3rd, Flavio Cobolli +78, Felix Auger-Aliassime +3

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The prime coaching jobs in tennis are rarely up for grabs, yet a former top 10 star has revealed he turned down the chance to join the camp of two of the biggest names in the history of the sport.

Roger Federer and Andy Murray didn’t have too many coaches over the course of their career, with the true greats of the game earning the right to be highly selective when adding key members to their team.

Severin Luthi and former top 10 star Ivan Ljubicic were among the experts who worked in Federer’s team and he was also coached by his one-time idol Stefan Edberg for a couple of years.

As for Murray, the most successful moments of his career came as he worked alongside Grand Slam-winning great Ivan Lendl and he also worked with former world No 1 Amelie Mauresmo, Brad Gilbert, Miles Maclagan, Alex Corretja and Mark Petchey.

Now it has emerged that both Federer and Murray also tried and failed to add former British No 1 Tim Henman to their coaching pools, as he made the revelation in the latest edition of the Off Court with Greg Rusedski podcast.

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“I had two coaching offers, Federer and Murray, and I said no to them both. So I think I sort of set the bar pretty high,” said Henman.

“If you’re going to coach on the tour, it’s a big commitment. I talk about my media work and, you know, I’m going to the Slams and a few other events, you know, I might be on the road 12 weeks, which again is a perfect balance.

“I think realistically, if you’re to work with any player, let alone a top player, I think you’re going to double that. And I don’t have the desire to be back on tour in that capacity.”

The reunion of Henman with his old rival and Davis Cup team-mate Rusedski on the podcast confirmed that any animosity between the duo has long since evaporated, with one half of the duo that dominated British tennis in the 1990s and early 2000s suggesting the media hype around their relationship may have been exaggerated.

Rusedski moved to Britain from Canada in 1995, just as Henman was emerging as the big hope of tennis in his homeland and he could have seen the arrival of a newcomer as a threat, but he insists that was never the case.

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“Greg and I had some bumps in the road along the way, but I didn’t really see him as a competitor when he came over,” reflected Henman.

“He wasn’t really on my radar as my ranking was lower at the time. I had a lot to do to get into the conversation and once we rose up the rankings and then I get to 50 and Greg’s, you know, probably around there, maybe a bit higher, then suddenly we’re knocking on the door of the top 30, the top 20.

“I think we, I always felt that I had a perspective of where I wanted to be in, in world tennis and the ranking. Yes, of course I’m aware. I would be rather be British No 1 than British No 2, but you know, it was, it was to a certain extent secondary to what we both wanted.

“You’d much rather be British No 2 and No 10 in the world than British No 1 and 95 in the world. And I think that’s where Greg and I changed the landscape. All of a sudden there was belief that we could compete for big titles.”

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Daniil Medvedev, Andrey Rublev and Tallon Griekspoor are among more than 40 ATP players, officials and staff still stuck in Dubai following the escalation of conflict in the Middle East as flights out of the United Arab Emirates remain cancelled.

The trio competed in the latter stages of the Dubai Tennis Championships with the semi-finals taking place on Friday and the finals staged the following day at the Aviation Club Tennis Centre.

However, the singles final never materialised as Griekspoor withdrew prior to the match due to a hamstring injury, handing Medvedev his 23rd ATP Tour title.

But that news took a backseat in the bigger scheme of things as the United States and Israel launched military action on Iran and the latter retaliated by attacking various American bases in the region, including the United Arab Emirates.

It resulted in airspaces being closed with Medvedev, Griekspoor, Rublev and Marcelo Arevalo, Mate Pavic, Harri Heliovaara and Henry Patten forced to seek shelter in their respective hotels.

Medvedev gave an update on Sunday as he confirmed he is fine, but it remains to be seen when and if he will be able to leave Dubai.

According to MARCA, the ATP held an emergency meeting on Sunday evening to discuss alternative travelling options for those players who were due to fly to the United States for the Indian Wells Open.

The Spanish publication states: “Two of these options are by road: a six-hour drive to Oman, which has closed its airport, or a 10-hour drive to Riyadh (Saudi Arabia), with the risk of what might happen on such long journeys, plus long queues at both borders”.

It adds that the players have decided not to take up either of those offers as “after weighing the pros and cons, the tennis players have decided not to move from their current residence for now and are very clear that their chances of competing in Indian Wells are becoming increasingly slim”.

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The ATP’s head of security has told those still in Dubai to stay in the hotel, “which has been turned into a bunker. Beds have been set up on the lower ground floor in case Iran’s attacks intensify”.

According to the tennis organisation, there are at least 41 people – including, players, staff, officials and journalists – in the Middle East country with many of them now touch and go ahead of the next event, the Indian Wells Open in California.

The main draw for the ATP Masters 1000 event in the United States gets underway on March 4 and players have guaranteed reservations for flights until March 3.

Authorities are hopeful that the airspace will reopen on Monday afternoon, leading to a scramble to get on the first flights out of Dubai.

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Daniil Medvedev has declared that “no one knows” when he will be able to leave Dubai due to the cancellation of flights amid conflict in the Middle East.

The former world No 1 secured his 23rd ATP Tour title without having to play the Dubai Championships final on Saturday as his scheduled opponent Tallon Griekspoor was forced to withdraw due to a hamstring injury.

Prior to Griekspoor’s withdrawal, the final at the ATP 500 tournament in the United Arab Emirates had been due to go ahead on Saturday night despite the situation in the Middle East.

On Saturday morning, the United States and Israel launched joint air strikes on various locations in Iran.

Iran retaliated by firing missiles at US bases in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Medvedev, Griekspoor, and the players involved in the doubles final in Dubai, have been unable to leave the city on flights as the UAE has closed its airspace.

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Main draw action at the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Indian Wells, California will get underway on 4 March, and it is unclear when the players stuck in Dubai will be able to travel to the United States.

Medvedev, who was a runner-up in Indian Wells in 2023 and 2024, is due to be seeded 11th at this year’s edition of the prestigious event.

What has Daniil Medvedev said about his situation in Dubai?

Medvedev, who is with his family and support team in Dubai, has given an update on their situation in a video to Russian outlet More!.

“Of course, the situation is unusual. The airspace is closed, no one knows when we’ll be able to fly,” said the 30-year-old Russian, who won the US Open in 2021.

“It’s unclear how long this will last, so we’re just waiting to see what happens in the next few hours and days. The airport closure is being gradually postponed.

“As strange as it may sound, I’m very emotional on the court, but in life, it would probably help me to be more emotional at certain moments. For me, everything is fine.

“Naturally, I’ve received a lot of messages from friends and acquaintances; everyone is worried. But I can say for myself that everything is fine.”

READ NEXT: Daniil Medvedev reacts after breaking ATP 500 title drought via walkover

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Novak Djokovic silenced his doubters with a stunning win against Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open in January, but was that his last big chance to win the 25th Grand Slam title he has been chasing for over two years?

The Serbian legend struggled in the early rounds of the first Grand Slam of the year and looked to be on his way out until injury halted Lorenzo Musetti’s march in what had been a one-sided quarter-final in favour of the Italian.

Djokovic stunned the sporting world when he bounced back from that near miss to beat Sinner in a five-set thriller and he then took the opening set against Carlos Alcaraz in the final.

In the end, the younger man roared back to win his first Australian Open title and complete a career Grand Slam, leaving Djokovic to ponder if his moment to win a final major had passed him by.

That is also a question being pondered by Sky Sports Tennis lead commentator Jonathan Overend, who admits he doubts whether Djokovic can beat Alcaraz and Sinner and in back-to-back five set matches at this stage of his career.

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“Djokovic is the next best to Alcaraz and Sinner and at the age of 38, that is a frightening thought and highlights what he is still doing,” said Overend, in an exclusive interview with Tennis365.

“I suppose the question now is, was that the moment? Was that the opportunity? 
Is that what he needed? You look at the chance he had. Sinner was out and [Alexander] Zverev was so close to beating Alcaraz in his semi-final. If Djokovic played Zvere in the final, he is probably favourite to win that match.

“To beat Sinner and Alcaraz in back-to-back matches is tough, nigh on impossible, but that tournament tells you all you need to know about why he is still going.”

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Overend was backing Alexander Bublik to make an impact at the top of the game prior to the start of the 2026 season, but he admits the chasing pack are still along way behind the ‘Big 3’ of Alcaraz, Sinner and Djokovic at the top of the men’s game.

“You look at Alexander Zverev serving for the match against Alcaraz at the Australian Open and you have to say he was so close and yet still so far away,” he added.

“In a way, it was predictable what happened in that service game and that told me he is still so far away from breaking his duck, which is why I say Djokovic is still the main challenger to Alcaraz and Sinner.

“
You’re looking at players who can disrupt, who can get a win, you know, a bit like [Botic] van de Zandschulp against Alcaraz a couple of years ago [at the US Open], even though admittedly Alcaraz now has stabilised in the early rounds of Slams.

“You’re thinking, who could take Alcaraz or Sinner out early? And is that more likely than a Zverev, for example, winning at the back end of a Slam? 
I still think that is more likely,

“I think the pressure is on those younger players coming through. The big challenger to Sinner Alcarez? We might not know about them yet.”

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