Friday in Tennis Paradise marks the first time seeds see action after opening round byes. That means a whole bunch of big names are in action, making for an appetizing buffet of matches across eight courts. 

Here are three, of the many, that stand out. 

Jannik Sinner vs Dalibor Srvcina 

Is Jannik Sinner in a slump? 

The Italian has lost twice on hard courts already this year after going 39-3 on hard in all of 2025. Two of those losses, too, were retirements. 

It took 24-time Grand Slam winner Novak Djokovic, though, to beat Sinner in the Australian Open semifinals and Jakob Mensik to down him in Doha. Mensik owns one of the most potent serves on tour, not to mention a winning record against the top 10 despite only being 20. 

Sinner — in keeping with his chilled demeanor — certainly isn’t panicking. 

“The season (has been) good,” the four-time Grand Slam winner told reporters in Indian Wells this week. “We try to maximize our potential. Season has just started, so it's a very important couple of tournaments for me before going on the clay. I know that. But I feel good to play some good tennis. Now we see how it goes.”

Sinner opens the night session at Stadium 1 against Mensik’s compatriot from Czechia, Dalibor Srvcina. 

The speedy 109th-ranked qualifier collected his maiden Indian Wells win against James Duckworth on Wednesday. 

Aryna Sabalenka vs Himeno Sakatsume 

Congratulations are in order for Aryna Sabalenka. The world No. 1 just got engaged to entrepreneur Georgios Frangulis. 

And earlier in March, Sabalenka was nominated as World Sportswoman of the Year at the Laureus World Sports Awards. 

Sabalenka finds out if she won on April 20. 

The good news for her might help offset the disappointment endured at the Australian Open. 

While Sabalenka made a fourth straight final in Melbourne — the first female player to achieve the feat in more than 20 years — she lost the finale against Elena Rybakina after leading 3-0 in the third set. 

Sabalenka then decided to sit out both 1000 events in Doha and Dubai last month.

“I really miss playing and just cannot wait to start my first match here,” last year’s finalist in Tennis Paradise told reporters.

Like Sinner, Sabalenka plays at Stadium 1 against a qualifier challenging a top 10 foe for the first time, Himeno Sakatsume of Japan. 

Sakatsume posted her best year-end finish in 2025 at 156th, helped by reaching the quarterfinals in Hong Kong in October. 

Along the way, the 24-year-old upset Grand Slam winner Sofia Kenin. 

Alexander Zverev vs Matteo Berrettini

Two Grand Slam finalists duel first up at Stadium 1 as Alexander Zverev meets Matteo Berrettini. 

Berrettini couldn’t have concluded his nearly three hour first round win against Adrian Mannarino in a more dramatic way. The 2021 Wimbledon finalist and Sinner's Davis Cup teammate capped a lengthy rally with a decisive forehand before falling to the court due to cramps. 

The oft injured Berrettini entered Indian Wells with more health concerns, recovering from illness. 

Speaking of drama, Zverev took part in one of last year’s most memorable matches in Indian Wells, edged by familiar foe Tallon Griekspoor in a final set tiebreak in the second round. 

That after Griekspoor couldn’t serve out the match in both the second and third sets and missed out on five match points — on his own serve — prior to the tiebreak. 

It meant that Zverev had to wait until this year to try to reach a first semifinal in Indian Wells — he has made the semifinals, at least, at all of the other Masters 1000 events. 

The world No. 4 said he was satisfied with his season so far, despite not serving out his Australian Open semifinal against eventual champ Carlos Alcaraz in the fifth set. 

He picked up silverware at his last event in Acapulco — in doubles alongside his good friend, Marcelo Melo. 

Although Zverev leads Berrettini 4-3 in their head-to-heads, Berrettini has won the last two.