The United States is ready to host the top players on the WTA and ATP Tours, as the Indian Wells and Miami Open are scheduled for March. Many global stars, including Jessica Pegula, Ben Shelton, and others, have already arrived at the destination, and many more will be landing in California in the next couple of days as the main draw of the BNP Paribas Open kicks off on Wednesday, March 4.
However, before the intense competition takes over the fields, the Indian Wells Tennis Garden will host the Eisenhower Cup exhibition event on the eve of main draw play.
Everything You Need to Know About the Eisenhower Cup Featuring Jessica Pegula, Ben Shelton, and Others
The Eisenhower Cup is the kickoff event for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. Set for the main draw eve, this fan-favorite one-night tournament takes place under the lights in Stadium 2, offering an entertaining, shorter version of tennis featuring top stars.
Unlike regular professional tennis matches, players do not play standard games or sets and follow the “Tie Break Tens” format. Every match is just a single super tiebreaker, and the first team to reach 10 points wins, with at least a 2-point lead over their opponents.
These regulations mean players must bring their best shots to every point, creating a thrilling environment from the very beginning of the match. Eight elite teams compete in a sudden-death bracket, with a loss immediately knocking a duo out of the contest. It is a winner-take-all format, meaning the winning pair receives the entire $200,000 prize purse, further increasing the stakes.
The Eisenhower Cup this year is scheduled for Tuesday, March 3, at Stadium 2. The gates open at 5:30 PM, and the matches start at exactly 7:00 PM local time. This year’s event features a star-studded mixed doubles lineup packed with top ATP and WTA stars, including the defending champions Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina.
They face tough competition. The line-up features:
- Taylor Fritz and Elena Rybakina
- Iga Świątek and Casper Ruud
- Amanda Anisimova and Learner Tien
- Jessica Pegula and Tommy Paul
- Emma Navarro and Ben Shelton
- Leylah Fernandez and Felix Auger-Aliassime
- Mirra Andreeva and Alexander Bublik
- Jasmine Paolini and Matteo Berrettini
Medvedev and Rublev, who were initially set to team up with defending champion Andreeva and Anisimova, respectively, were replaced by Bublik and Tien amid uncertainty over their travel to the USA. The duo, alongside other tennis players, are presently stranded in Dubai following the temporary closure of the UAE’s airspace.
The history of the Eisenhower Cup dates back to its first edition in 2019. Milos Raonic emerged victorious in that very first event when it was played as a men’s singles tournament. After a two-year gap, Anisimova won the women’s singles title in 2022, before the event was changed to the current mixed doubles format.
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Since that switch, the tournament has delivered fans some memorable winning partnerships. Fritz and Aryna Sabalenka lifted the trophy in 2023, while the All-American duo of Shelton and Navarro took home the trophy in 2024. Most recently, in 2025, Fritz secured his second Eisenhower Cup title by winning alongside the 2026 Australian Open champion Rybakina.
With just one day left for the mixed doubles exhibition, it would be interesting to see the singles stars team up for an exciting event before the Masters/WTA 1000 tournament kicks off.
