Reilly Opelka in Indian Wells doubles draw as Djokovic and Tsitsipas team up for blockbuster opener
reilly opelka is set for a headline doubles pairing at Indian Wells, lined up alongside Jannik Sinner on a wildcard entry in Tennis Paradise. As of 2: 10 PM ET Thursday, the men’s doubles draw also confirmed Novak Djokovic will play doubles in Indian Wells for the first time since 2019, teaming with Stefanos Tsitsipas on a wildcard. The immediate stakes are high: Djokovic and Tsitsipas open against defending champions Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, turning the first round into a marquee collision.
Wildcards set a loaded first round
The draw released Thursday placed Djokovic and Tsitsipas straight into a blockbuster opener against Arevalo and Pavic, the defending champions. The pairing is notable not only for star power, but for timing: Djokovic is back in the Indian Wells doubles field for the first time since 2019, and Tsitsipas enters with his singles campaign already over after a loss to Denis Shapovalov.
Djokovic’s prior doubles run at Indian Wells peaked in the semifinals in 2019, when he played with Fabio Fognini. The latest draw adds another recent data point on Djokovic’s doubles activity: he last played doubles at any tournament at Doha 2025, partnering Fernando Verdasco in Verdasco’s farewell event.
Reilly Opelka and Sinner face top seeds
Another wildcard team draws immediate attention: Jannik Sinner and reilly opelka are set to play top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos in the opening round. Sinner is identified in the draw notes as the world No. 2 in singles, while Opelka is listed at 6-foot-11, making the combination one of the most physically imposing pairings in the field.
Sinner and Opelka have already shared success as a team, winning the doubles title together in Atlanta five years ago. Their first-round assignment at Indian Wells is a steep one on paper—meeting the top-seeded duo immediately—but the wildcard slot ensures the pairing arrives as a central storyline from the first ball.
Immediate reactions from the draw and what it signals
Officials at the BNP Paribas Open described that many of the standout men’s doubles players and intended teams in Tennis Paradise were already known before Thursday’s draw, but the confirmed wildcard entries sharpened the spotlight. With Djokovic and Tsitsipas placed against the defending champions right away, and Sinner and Opelka tasked with the top seeds, the early-round schedule is set to deliver high-level matchups without a warm-up window.
Beyond those pairings, the draw also scheduled Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien against cousins Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot in another noteworthy first-round match. The tournament notes highlight an age gap—Medvedev is 30 and Tien 20—while stating they have already developed an intriguing singles rivalry since the start of 2025.
Quick context
Djokovic and Tsitsipas have known each other and played singles for years, including a 2021 French Open final where Djokovic came back from two sets down to beat Tsitsipas. The Indian Wells doubles draw now brings their partnership into focus immediately, with no easing-in period.
What’s next in Tennis Paradise
Attention now shifts to when these marquee first-round matches hit the court, as the draw has positioned star names against elite teams from the outset. If Djokovic and Tsitsipas can navigate the defending champions, they keep alive a path that could reshape the doubles narrative of this edition; if Sinner and reilly opelka upset the top seeds, the wildcard pairing becomes an instant tournament pivot.
