Sam Querrey: Look for Iga Swiatek to kickstart 2026 season at Indian Wells

The 2026 BNP Paribas Open is just around the corner—main-draw action kicks off Wednesday, March 4—and all eyes are on the top players as they descend on Tennis Paradise.

Tennis Channel’s team of analyst handicapped the field and made their picks of all the must-watch players heading into the Sunshine Swing.

1. Which player are you most excited to see play in Tennis Paradise?

Next up: Which player has the most to prove at the BNP Paribas Open?

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EUGENIE BOUCHARD

Coco Gauff. Coco has had an underwhelming start to the year by her standards, but started to pick up her form in Dubai, where she reached the semifinals. The conditions in Indian Wells should really suit her game.

SAM QUERREY

Iga Swiatek. This is a tough one because pretty much every top player on the men’s and women’s side has had a decent start to the year. I'll take Swiatek to make a big run and potentially win it—especially if she plays a handful of night matches or matches in the wind.  I think she's dangerous in those conditions.

BRETT HABER

Frances Tiafoe. Frances’s start to 2026 was downright pedestrian, but the American has been trying to adjust to a new coaching set-up since parting with David Witt and Jordi Arconada at the end of last season. He’s now working with Dr. Mark Kovacs, and I expect him to be energized for the Sunshine Double and start putting things back together.

PAUL ANNACONE

Emma Navarro. I’m look for Emma to turn things around at a tournament where she made her first WTA 1000 quarterfinal in 2024. She’s been struggling late, but she’s far too good a player not to have more consistent results and I think being back in the States will help lift her sails.

NICK MONROE

Jack Draper. He’s the defending champion and looked solid coming back from injury this week at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. No doubt he’ll want to make a statement at the site of his first Masters breakthrough.