Elena Rybakina’s legend is definitely rising.
Fresh off her Australian Open victory last month, the Russian-born Kazakhstani tennis star will headline the 2026 Eisenhower Cup with American Taylor Fritz. It will be a prelude to this year’s BNP Paribas Open, which will run March 1-15. Rybakina won the 2023 BNP Paribas Open. Fritz won in it 2022.
The duo will be paired together for the one-night Tie Break Tens mixed doubles charity exhibition, which will be played March 3 under the lights of Stadium 2 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Tickets are on sale now, starting at $60.
The following duos are scheduled to join Rybakina and Fritz, with the winners earning a $200,000 purse:
Entering its sixth edition at the BNP Paribas Open, the Eisenhower Cup has cemented itself as an Indian Wells tradition and a fan-favorite event. Eisenhower Cup ticket holders will also be able to access the grounds early and gain admission to BNP Paribas Open qualifying matches taking place all day before the evening event. The exhibition event will be broadcast live in the U.S. on Tennis Channel.
The Eisenhower Cup benefits The Champions Volunteer Foundation (TCVF) – the non-profit arm of the BNP Paribas Open that is dedicated to supporting local charities around the greater Coachella Valley region. Since its inception, in 2001, TCVF has donated more than $5 million to nearly 75 different local non-profit organizations.
Andrew John covers the BNP Paribas Open for The Desert Sun and the USA TODAY Network. Email him at andrew.johndesertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Rybakina and Fritz headlining 2026 Eisenhower Cup at Indian Wells
Reporting by Andrew John, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
