Venus Williams and Gael Monfils among 13 wildcards for Indian Wells

Indian Wells has handed out wild cards for the 2026 tournament, bringing in a mix of big names and promising young US players.

Gael Monfils has been handed a spot in the Masters event, which is expected to be his last appearance at Indian Wells.

Venus Williams is also set to feature, marking her fifth tournament of the season following appearances at the Australian swing and the ATX Open.

The draw will be even more star-studded this year, with 13 players earning direct entry across both tours.

All 2026 Indian Wells wild cards in full

Indian Wells, often referred to as the unofficial fifth Grand Slam, always attracts a strong field and this year is no different. The event boasts a 96-player draw, adding to its prestige.

This year’s list includes several intriguing additions across both the men’s and women’s fields.

On the men’s side, most wild cards have been given to young prospects, with Monfils being an exception as he takes part in his farewell tournament.

Americans Martin Damm, Michael Zheng, and Zachary Svajda have earned spots after promising starts to their seasons.

Zheng notched his first Grand Slam win at the Australian Open against Sebastian Korda, while Svajda recently pushed Frances Tiafoe in a close match at the Delray Beach Open. Damm also had a standout performance in Montpellier earlier this year, reaching the semi-finals of the ATP 250 tournament with wins over Roberto Bautista Agut, Hubert Hurkacz, and Luca Nardi. That run helped him rise to World No. 128.

The women’s wild cards include some bigger names this time around; Venus Williams will be joined by two former Grand Slam champions: Bianca Andreescu and Sloane Stephens. Jennifer Brady will also make her comeback after reaching the Australian Open final. Other entries go to Americans Alycia Parks and Katie Volynets, while Donna Vekic and rising talent Lilli Tagger complete the group.

Stan Wawrinka misses out on Indian Wells wild card

Despite the 13 wild card slots featuring plenty of familiar names, Stan Wawrinka’s absence from the list comes as a surprise to many.

The three-time Grand Slam winner has announced plans to retire at the end of the year, meaning he won’t get a farewell appearance in Indian Wells.

Wawrinka has already received wild cards for the Australian Open, Dubai, Montpellier and Rotterdam this season. His omission from Indian Wells is notable given his recent track record.

He’s shown he can still compete, too, with six wins already in 2026 proving he’s still got something to offer.

His next shot at a proper American send-off will come at the Miami Open, if another wild card comes his way.

Read more: