News'n'Clues - TENNIS Article Summaries

Benjamin Bonzi vs. Jack Pinnington Jones Indian Wells 2026 1st Round Qualifying

Source: {'href': 'https://www.atptour.com', 'title': 'ATP Tour'} Published: 2026-03-02 17:55:45

Federico Agustin Gomez vs. Shintaro Mochizuki Indian Wells 2026 1st Round Qualifying

Source: {'href': 'https://www.atptour.com', 'title': 'ATP Tour'} Published: 2026-03-02 17:54:57

Christopher O'Connell vs. Billy Harris Indian Wells 2026 1st Round Qualifying

Source: {'href': 'https://www.atptour.com', 'title': 'ATP Tour'} Published: 2026-03-02 17:54:57

Nicolas Jarry vs. Francesco Maestrelli Indian Wells 2026 1st Round Qualifying

Source: {'href': 'https://www.atptour.com', 'title': 'ATP Tour'} Published: 2026-03-02 17:51:00

Thiago Agustin Tirante vs. Izyan Ahmad Indian Wells 2026 1st Round Qualifying

Source: {'href': 'https://www.atptour.com', 'title': 'ATP Tour'} Published: 2026-03-02 17:51:00

Colton Smith vs. Sho Shimabukuro Indian Wells 2026 1st Round Qualifying

Source: {'href': 'https://www.atptour.com', 'title': 'ATP Tour'} Published: 2026-03-02 17:51:00

Scouting Report: Alcaraz & Sinner seek Indian Wells success, Djokovic chases title record

Source: {'href': 'https://www.atptour.com', 'title': 'ATP Tour'} Published: 2026-03-02 11:05:50

Alcaraz is a two-time champion at the hard-court event, while Sinner is yet to taste success in the California desert. Djokovic will be seeking a record sixth crown and first since 2016. Top 10 stars Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lead American hopes. ATPTour.com looks at 10 things to watch during the 2026 BNP Paribas Open. 1) Can Alcaraz maintain his perfect start to the season? Alcaraz arrives in Indian Wells holding a perfect 12-0 record on the season, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. Sinner has won all five of the other ATP Masters 1000 hard-court events but is yet to triumph in the Californian desert. The Italian, chasing his first trophy of 2026, reached the semi-finals in Indian Wells in 2023 and 2024. 3) Djokovic seeks record sixth crown: If Djokovic can triumph at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden for the first time since 2016, he will move clear of Roger Federer as a record six-time champion. 5) American charge: Ben Shelton, Frances Tiafoe, Tommy Paul, Learner Tien and Brandon Nakashima will all be seeded on home soil in Indian Wells. 8 Shelton won the title in Dallas and is seeking his second Masters 1000 trophy after winning Toronto last season. Tiafoe (2023) and Paul (2024) are former semi-finalists in Indian Wells, while Tien is searching for his first win at the event. Nakashima reached the fourth round last year. 6) Defending champion Draper: Jack Draper returned to the ATP Tour in Dubai last week after being sidelined for six months due to a left arm injury. Cameron Norrie is also in the draw. 4 Alexander Zverev is a seven-time Masters 1000 champion but has never advanced beyond the quarter-finals in Indian Wells. The 28-year-old German will hope to change that record this fortnight. 8) Top 10 threats: Lorenzo Musetti, Alex de Minaur, Felix Auger-Aliassime and Alexander Bublik are all chasing their first Masters 1000 titles in Indian Wells. De Minaur, Auger-Aliassime and Bublik have all lifted tour-level trophies this year, triumphing in Rotterdam, Montpellier and Hong Kong, respectively. 9) Next Gen stars Fonseca & Jodar in action: Joao Fonseca will hope to kick-start his year in Indian Wells, where he is making his second appearance. Jodar has earned three tour-level wins in 2026 and will make his debut at the hard-court event after receiving a wild card. Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic are the defending champions. Your data will be used in accordance with the ATP Privacy Policy and WTA Privacy Policy. Get official marketing communications from the ATP and WTA! We'll send you newsletters keeping you informed about news, tournaments, competitions, ticketing, partner offers and more. Your data will be used in accordance with the ATP Privacy Policy and WTA Privacy Policy. No part of this site may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any way or by any means (including photocopying, recording or storing it in any medium by electronic means), without the written permission of ATP Tour, Inc..

For Longhorns everywhere: Peyton Stearns, former University of Texas star, wins Austin title

Source: {'href': 'https://www.tennis.com', 'title': 'Tennis.com'} Published: 2026-03-02 10:07:30

Two years after lifting her first WTA singles title on the clay courts of Rabat, Morocco, Peyton Stearns has won her second much closer to home.The former University of Texas standout, who lost in the first round of the ATX Open, her adopted home tournament in Austin, each of the last two years, completed a goal she's wanted since the WTA 250 hit the calendar in 2023. That year, she won her first WTA main-draw match in Austin, and made the quarterfinals as a wild card less than a year after she lifted the NCAA Division I national singles trophy.After coming from a set down to beat Brit Francesca Jones at the first hurdle, and snapping her three-match skid at the event, Stearns admitted that she thought "it would be nice for a Longhorn to win this tournament, finally. Stearns won three of her five matches over the week in three sets, and saved a trio of set points in the opener of a 7-6(8), 7-5 title-match victory against Taylor Townsend, who was contesting her first tour-level singles final at the age of 29. That year, she won her first WTA main-draw match in Austin, and made the quarterfinals as a wild card less than a year after she lifted the NCAA Division I national singles trophy.After coming from a set down to beat Brit Francesca Jones at the first hurdle, and snapping her three-match skid at the event, Stearns admitted that she thought "it would be nice for a Longhorn to win this tournament, finally. Stearns won three of her five matches over the week in three sets, and saved a trio of set points in the opener of a 7-6(8), 7-5 title-match victory against Taylor Townsend, who was contesting her first tour-level singles final at the age of 29. After coming from a set down to beat Brit Francesca Jones at the first hurdle, and snapping her three-match skid at the event, Stearns admitted that she thought "it would be nice for a Longhorn to win this tournament, finally. Stearns won three of her five matches over the week in three sets, and saved a trio of set points in the opener of a 7-6(8), 7-5 title-match victory against Taylor Townsend, who was contesting her first tour-level singles final at the age of 29. Stearns won three of her five matches over the week in three sets, and saved a trio of set points in the opener of a 7-6(8), 7-5 title-match victory against Taylor Townsend, who was contesting her first tour-level singles final at the age of 29. Stearns won three of her five matches over the week in three sets, and saved a trio of set points in the opener of a 7-6(8), 7-5 title-match victory against Taylor Townsend, who was contesting her first tour-level singles final at the age of 29. Townsend had two set points on return at 5-3, and after Stearns rallied to force a tiebreaker, the left-hander left her third chance on the table at 8-7 after erasing Stearns' 6-3 lead.The match marked the second straight all-American title match in Austin, as Jessica Pegula beat McCartney Kessler to win the 2025 crown, and both home hopes will get a significant ranking boost prior to the Sunshine Double.Stearns, who came into the event ranked No. 28 last May, will be back in the Top 50 on Monday, while Townsend will return to the singles Top 100. But after erasing a 4-0 first-set deficit in the semifinals against Ashlyn Krueger, she couldn't see an early lead through against Stearns. Townsend had two set points on return at 5-3, and after Stearns rallied to force a tiebreaker, the left-hander left her third chance on the table at 8-7 after erasing Stearns' 6-3 lead.The match marked the second straight all-American title match in Austin, as Jessica Pegula beat McCartney Kessler to win the 2025 crown, and both home hopes will get a significant ranking boost prior to the Sunshine Double.Stearns, who came into the event ranked No. 28 last May, will be back in the Top 50 on Monday, while Townsend will return to the singles Top 100. 28 last May, will be back in the Top 50 on Monday, while Townsend will return to the singles Top 100. Stearns, who came into the event ranked No. 28 last May, will be back in the Top 50 on Monday, while Townsend will return to the singles Top 100.

Hot Shot: Darderi's backpedalling backhand clips the line in the Santiago 2026 final

Source: {'href': 'https://www.atptour.com', 'title': 'ATP Tour'} Published: 2026-03-02 00:25:11