Will Novak Djokovic participate at Indian Wells Open 2026?
(Courtesy :Â @djokernole/Instagram)
Novak Djokovic is a five-time champion at Indian Wells.
The Indian Wells 2026 competition is the next biggest tournament of the season after the Australian Open, bringing together all the top ranked players under one roof for the next couple of weeks. It marks the beginning of the Sunshine Double and boasts a staggering prize pool of $9,415,725 for the 2026 event.
The entry lists for players competing at the desert have been released. Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner lead the field, and World No. 3 Novak Djokovic is expected to slot in as the third seed.
The Serbian earlier reached the Australian Open final beating Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals, but falling short against Alcaraz in the title clash.
He is now expected to return to action at Indian Wells, after withdrawing from the Doha event due to fatigue. Djokovic is one of the greatest ever to have played at Indian Wells, having created the record of 20 consecutive wins from 2014 to 2017, and is a five-time winner at the venue.
Despite all his success, his record at Indian Wells has declined dramatically since winning his fifth and last trophy back in 2016. He suffered consecutive early losses from 2017-19, and did not compete for the next five years.
He made his comeback in 2024 but it was a short one, as the top seed was beaten by Luca Nardi in the second round. In 2025, he suffered a shocking opening round loss at the hands of Botic van de Zandschulp.
Also Read: Novak Djokovic 100 titles: Breakdown by opponents, cities, tournaments
With no points to defend, the Serbian will be under little pressure. It remains to be seen if he is fit and recovered well enough after a tiring start to the season.
Moreover, with several points to defend in Miami where he had reached the final last year, Djokovic will be hoping to get back to playing his best tennis.
The Indian Wells 2026 drawing ceremony will take place on March 2, where fans will officially get to know if Djokovic will play the tournament this year or not. The round of 64 matches begins from March 6, with the final scheduled to take place on March 15.
When was Novak Djokovic last seen in tennis action this season?
Djokovic was last in action at the Australian Open, where he reached the final and finished as the runner-up after losing the title match to Carlos Alcaraz.
Will Novak Djokovic participate at Indian Wells Open 2026?
Djokovic has been named in the entry list for the tournament and is likely to be seeded third, behind World No. 1 & 2 Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner respectively.
When did Novak Djokovic last win the title at Indian Wells Open?
Djokovic is a five-time champion at Indian Wells and last lifted the title at the venue in 2016.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.