After qualifying filled the air of the Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, it’s time for main draw action to start at the BNP Paribas Open. With that in mind, here are five things to watch on a busy Day 1 of first round action.

Return of Wimbledon champ Kvitova

Petra Kvitova is on the comeback trail for a happy reason — she gave birth to son Petr.

The two-time Wimbledon champion told the WTA that her love for the sport brought her back.

“I don’t expect anything, basically,” the soon-to-be 35-year-old said to the WTA. “Sometimes I’m really surprised by myself. Like, why (did I come back)? But I think I would have regretted it if I didn’t come back. I’m not putting any goals on myself. I will never play as good as I was playing when I was winning tournaments. I want to enjoy myself playing tennis, and I think it will take time.”

Kvitova hit 12 double faults in her return last week in Austin against Jodie Burrage, something she’ll no doubt seek to rectify against Varvara Gracheva. They kick off proceedings at Stadium 1.

Osaka meets counterpunching Colombian

Naomi Osaka knows what it’s like to return to pro tennis as a mom. She was in the same position as Kvitova last year, having given birth to daughter Shai in 2023. You could say that Indian Wells was where it all began for Osaka, who landed her first pro title at any level in
2018 in the desert by upending Daria Kasatkina.

Hard courts are her preferred surface, evidenced by two Grand Slam titles each at the US Open and Australian Open (including in 2019 when the Japanese power base-
liner edged Kvitova in a thriller).

Osaka hasn’t played since the Australian Open, where she retired against Belinda Bencic — another mom back on tour — with a lingering abdominal injury.

Osaka won her lone previous match against Wednesday’s opponent, Camila Osorio, 6-3, 6-3 in Melbourne in 2022. Racing out to a 5-0 lead against the Colombian counter-puncher set the tone. Osorio will hope for a better start under the Stadium 1 lights.

Opelka’s back in the desert, too

The last time Reilly Opelka played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, he pushed a now retired member of the “Big 3,” Rafael Nadal, to two tiebreaks in 2022.

Two months ago, the 6-foot-11 Florida resident with the mammoth serve did beat another member of the “Big 3,” Novak Djokovic. And it wasn’t just the serve that troubled Djokovic that night in Brisbane.

But in the three-year gap, the 2021 Canadian Masters finalist endured an injury nightmare. Once his ailing hip got better, a more serious wrist injury developed and also affected his entire serving arm.

The man who’ll be up against those big serves at Stadium 1 is 2023 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Roman Safiullin.

Basavareddy’s Indian Wells debut

Nishesh Basavareddy, Learner Tien and Alex Michelsen all grew up playing together in California. They all played at last year’s Next Gen Finals, too. The dovetailing continues as all three feature in the main draw in Indian Wells. The dominos will have to fall in the right way but Basavareddy, 19, and Michelsen could even duel in the third round.

Basavareddy — who took a set off Djokovic in his Grand Slam debut at the Australian Open — won’t be looking past his first opponent at Stadium 1, though. China’s Yunchaokete Bu is, after all, higher ranked, 71st to Basavareddy’s 101st.

The hard-hitting baseliner — also making his Indian Wells debut — rocketed up the rankings last year and tested top 10 regulars Alexander Zverev and Taylor Fritz in consecutive tournaments in February.

If he wants some advice on Bu’s game, Basavareddy could ask Michelsen. Michelsen beat Bu in three sets in Acapulco last week after Bu couldn’t serve out the match in set two.

Another Stearns thriller?

When it comes to Indian Wells history, Peyton Stearns won’t soon be forgotten.

The former University of Texas standout took part in one of the most memorable matches, holding four match points — including three straight on her own serve — against Aryna Sabalenka 12 months ago. Sabalenka turned the tables, though, winning the third set
7-6 (6).

“This match definitely goes into the book of craziest matches and the best matches of my career,” said Sabalenka, who had just won the Australian Open. Stearns’ ranking has climbed from 64th back then to its current 44th, and in between the 23-year-old won her first title in Rabat last May after pulling off her own huge comebacks in the quarterfinals and semifinals.

Stearns plays Grand Slam semifinalist Magda Linette at Stadium 2 in the pair’s first meeting.