Indian Wells draw: Top two seeds Swiatek and Sabalenka face difficult paths

The BNP Paribas Open draw took place on Monday, with the top players in the world about to descend upon Indian Wells for the start of this year's Sunshine Double.

Main-draw play in Tennis Paradise kicks off Wednesday, March 6. The Top 32 seeds all receive first-round byes, with second-round action for those players starting on Friday, March 8. The combined WTA 1000 and ATP 1000 event continues through Sunday, March 17.

There will be intriguing matchups from the beginning. No.1 seed Iga Swiatek

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View the full draw HERE!

Here is a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of potential play over the next two weeks:

First quarter

World No.1 Swiatek, the 2022 Indian Wells champion, could quickly face multiple players who have recently given her trouble. Top-seeded Swiatek will meet either Danielle Collins

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Former World No.7 Collins upset Swiatek to reach her lone Grand Slam final at the 2022 Australian Open. Swiatek has won their other five meetings, but Collins pushed her to three tight sets in an Australian Open rematch earlier this year.

Swiatek then lost to Noskova in the third round of the Australian Open, and the Czech teen went on to reach her first Grand Slam quarterfinal.

At Indian Wells, Noskova could meet rising Brit Katie Boulter

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On the other side of the first quarter, No.6 seed Ons Jabeur

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And Jabeur could face the player she lost to at this year's Australian Open, 16-year-old Mirra Andreeva

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Whoever comes out of the Jabeur/Andreeva section might meet 2011 Indian Wells champion Caroline Wozniacki

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Second quarter

Defending champion Rybakina leads this quarter. Rybakina is this year's current match-win leader, with 17, including two titles.

Also in this section, No.13 seed Jasmine Paolini

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Reigning Wimbledon champion Marketa Vondrousova

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Third quarter

Reigning US Open champion and No.3 seed Coco Gauff

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Gauff could possibly face 2018 Indian Wells champion Naomi Osaka

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On the opposite side of this section, Zheng Qinwen resides as the No.8 seed. Chinese No.1 Zheng reached her first Grand Slam final earlier this year at the 2024 Australian Open. She could face her compatriot Yuan Yue, last week's Austin champion, in the second round.

If seedings hold, Zheng would take on former World No.1 Victoria Azarenka

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Fourth quarter

Last year's finalist Sabalenka sits at the bottom of the draw as the No.2 seed. Sabalenka, who successfully defended her Australian Open title earlier this season, will play either Elisabetta Cocciaretto

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2021 US Open champion Emma Raducanu

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No.16 seed Elina Svitolina

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In the other portion of this quarter, No.5 seed Jessica Pegula

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