Naomi Osaka and Iga Świątek are set to begin their campaigns on the North American hard court swing, starting with the 2026 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. Ahead of the tournament, Osaka was seen going on a 5K run as part of her training, while Świątek kicked off her workout routine at the beach.
Osaka and Świątek have previously won the WTA 1000 hard-court tournament in California. The Japanese claimed the title in 2018 by defeating Daria Kasatkina in the final, marking her first WTA Tour title, while Świątek has won the title twice, in 2022 and 2024, by overcoming Maria Sakkari on both occasions.
Former Champions Naomi Osaka and Iga Świątek Begin Training Ahead of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells
The 2026 BNP Paribas Open is scheduled to take place from March 4 to March 15, 2026, with the main draw matches taking place on the outdoor hard courts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Osaka and Świątek will be seeded in the tournament and will begin their campaigns in the second round after receiving a first-round bye.
In addition to Osaka and Świątek, players like Aryna Sabalenka, Coco Gauff, Elena Rybakina, Jasmine Paolini, Jessica Pegula, Victoria Mboko, Alexandra Eala, Belinda Bencic, and defending champion Mirra Andreeva will also compete in the WTA 1000 tournament.
Before the 2026 BNP Paribas Open, Osaka was seen running a 5K as part of her training. The annual BNP Paribas Open Family Day featured a new “5K Fun Run” open to fans of all ages. This event took place on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.
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She’s a runner, she’s a track star 💫#TennisParadise | @naomiosaka pic.twitter.com/WgUNDmF7B7
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) February 28, 2026
Meanwhile, Świątek had a calm training kickoff and spent the day at the beach.
“What a perfect morning. 🌊 🧘♀️ Happy to be back. 😎,” Świątek captioned her Instagram post.
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Ahead of the 2026 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, Świątek competed in the Middle East swing, specifically at the Qatar Open. She was the top seed at the tournament and began her campaign in the second round after receiving a bye. She defeated wild card Janice Tjen in her opening match and then eliminated Kasatkina in the third round before losing to Sakkari in the quarterfinals.
On the other hand, Osaka’s last competition on the WTA Tour was the 2026 Australian Open. Seeded 16th, she won her first two matches against Antonia Ružić and Sorana Cîrstea, but withdrew before her third-round match against qualifier Maddison Inglis due to a recurring abdominal injury.
The four-time singles Grand Slam champion was next scheduled to compete in the Middle East swing at the Qatar Open and the Dubai Tennis Championships, but she withdrew from both tournaments due to the same abdominal injury that affected her performance at the Melbourne Major.
