Many of the standout players and teams who intended to compete in men’s doubles in Tennis Paradise were already known before Thursday’s draw. 

But there was one big surprise. 

Novak Djokovic lines up in doubles in Indian Wells for the first time since 2019 as the Serbian and Stefanos Tsitsipas were granted a wildcard. 

The two have known each other and faced off in singles for years, with Djokovic coming from two sets down to beat the Greek in the 2021 French Open final. 

Djokovic — who now resides in Greece — reached the doubles semifinals in that 2019 edition alongside Fabio Fognini. 

He last played doubles at any tournament at Doha 2025 with Fernando Verdasco in the Spaniard’s farewell tournament. 

Djokovic and Tsitsipas have a blockbuster opener against defending champions Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic. 

If Djokovic wins that and happens to go all the way, the 38-year-old would get his hands on a second doubles trophy — 99 fewer than his singles haul. 

He would also become the second member of the legendary Big Three to win the doubles in Indian Wells, following Rafael Nadal. Roger Federer came close, reaching a pair of finals. 

Tsitsipas can now focus on doubles, since the 27-year-old lost to Denis Shapovalov in singles.

Jannik Sinner and Reilly Opelka were due to team up and indeed were given a wildcard, too. They also face a distinguished doubles team in top seeds Marcel Granollers and Horacio Zeballos. 

Sinner — the world No. 2 in singles — and the 6-foot-11 Opelka won the doubles title together in Atlanta five years ago. 

Another noteworthy first-round match pits Daniil Medvedev and Learner Tien against cousins Arthur Rinderknech and Valentin Vacherot. 

Despite the age gap — Medvedev is 30 and Tien 20 — they have already developed an intriguing singles rivalry, playing a few marathons since the start of 2025. 

As a qualifier ranked outside the top 200, Vacherot topped Rinderknech in the unlikely final of the Shanghai Masters in October. 

Sebastian Korda, who reached last year’s final with Jordan Thompson, this year plays with Felix Auger-Aliassime. 

The North American duo meet alternates Alexander Zverev and Marcelo Melo. Zverev and Melo, good friends, just claimed the doubles crown in Acapulco. 

More women's doubles on Friday

Among Friday’s women’s doubles action in Tennis Paradise, teen duo Mirra Andreeva and Victoria Mboko battle Elise Mertens and Zhang Shuai. 

Mboko and Iva Jovic held three match points on Mertens and Zhang in the second round at the Australian Open. Mertens and Zhang saved them, though, and went on to win the title. 

Wildcards Elena-Gabriela Ruse and Emma Raducanu — the 2021 US Open singles winner — take on the Grand Slam winning pair of Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend. 

Iga Swiatek

“I think honestly it’s a weird approach in the world where everything is becoming faster. So I don't know if the audience honestly would like that.

“Also, I don't know if we would be able to keep the quality for five sets. Well, that's a fact, men are more physically strong and they can handle it for sure better.

“Also, we have never practiced in a way to prepare for that, so we would need to change, I think, our whole calendar, because the Grand Slams would be so tough that I don't think we would have honestly time to prepare for any other tournaments.”