After winning the Mixed Doubles Invitational at the BNP Paribas Open last year, Matt Ebden enthused about the inaugural event. “I think it’s great for tennis,” said Ebden. “At the end of these events, when the singles is down to the last few matches, it’s a great filler before and after the matches.”

He’s not wrong.

The now Olympic gold medalist is back to defend his title alongside last year’s partner, Storm Hunter, as a wild card pairing. Play kicked off Tuesday in the 12-team draw despite rain in Indian Wells and saw a pair of Top 10 singles pros go head-to-head — Casper Ruud and Andrey Rublev.

Rublev and Nicole Melichar Martinez beat the Norwegian duo of Ruud and Ulrikke Eikeri 6-3, 7-5, breaking three times and capitalizing on returns when their opponents had to hit second serves. Rublev — who lost to Matteo Arnaldi in his singles opener — and Melichar Martinez of the US have both had success in mixed doubles.

Melichar Martinez won the mixed title at Wimbledon in 2018, while Rublev won mixed gold at the Olympics in Tokyo in 2021. They’ll next face third seeds Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Mate Pavic, both doubles Grand Slam champions.

The top seeds are also Grand Slam winners, Sara Errani and Andrea Vavassori. The Italians claimed the mixed crown at last year’s US Open. Aussies Hunter and Ebden will meet second seeds Erin Routliffe and Michael Venus of New Zealand if they beat Diana Shnaider and John Peers.

Hunter only returned to the tour in Austin late last month after suffering a ruptured Achilles just before last April’s Billie Jean King Cup series between Australia and Mexico. The lefty made the women’s doubles final last year in Tennis Paradise alongside Katerina Siniakova.

She competed in doubles this edition with Caroline Dolehide but lost in the first round to Ekaterina Alexandrova and Liudmila Samsonova. Samsonova and partner Simone Bolelli fell in the mixed on Tuesday to Carson Branstine and Nikola Mektic 6-4, 6-0.