Thursday brings yet more bright sunshine to Indian Wells.

Here are three things, if we had to narrow it down, to watch, leading off with a home player who comes into the tournament on a roll. A tennis legend and Grand Slam finalist on the way back from injuries also feature.

Sebi’s surge to continue? 

The big question surrounding Sebastian Korda in recent times has been, “How healthy is he?”

“Feeling the best physically I’ve felt in the last couple of years,” the 25-year-old told Tennis Channel earlier this month. 

Results certainly back up the talented Floridian’s words, as Korda has won 11 of his past 13 matches. 

He landed his third career title in Delray Beach last month not long after dropping down to compete at a Challenger in San Diego. 

A shin injury derailed his 2025 season and, coupled with other injuries in the past, took a toll mentally on the world No. 37.  

Korda and his team, including a new coach, Ryan Harrison, decided that playing in a Challenger would help. 

“Since coming back on tour after my leg injury, it was definitely the darkest time in my tennis career,” said last year's doubles finalist, whose dad, Petr, lost to Pete Sampras in the 1994 singles final in five sets. 

“I was getting a lot of anxiety when I was back on court, disconnected from playing matches and feeling those nerves when you are playing and kind of getting discouraged by it. I felt it was the right time to throw myself in the fire, to get back playing competitive tennis. 

“Whether I would have lost in the first round or won the whole tournament, it was just being in that environment. Started to find my form.”

He ended up making the final, losing to Zachary Svajda, who defeated Grand Slam winner Marin Cilic on Wednesday in Tennis Paradise.  

Korda’s opponent kicking off the night session at Stadium 1 is an often smiling Argentinian who has been known to dive for volleys in matches, Francisco Comesana. 

Comesana, ranked 82nd, makes his tournament debut. 

Venus graces the stage 

We’re seeing more of Venus Williams on court nowadays — and given her status as a tennis great, that can never be a bad thing. 

The 45-year-old contests her fifth singles match of 2026 after playing four in 2025 and just two in 2024. She will become the oldest women's player to appear here, surpassing a 44-year-old Kimiko Date in 2015.

Williams is sage but also remains a fierce competitor, so the seven-time Grand Slam winner is keen to end a seven-match losing skid when she faces a French qualifier with a rare one-handed backhand, Diane Parry, in the day session at Stadium 1. 

Williams — raised in California — almost got a ‘W’ at the Australian Open. She led Olga Danilovic 4-0 in the third set before the Serbian lefty won six games in a row. 

Williams made the semifinals in Indian Wells as recently as 2018, edged by Daria Kasatkina in a three-set thriller. 

Brady’s back 

As unfortunate as the injuries to Korda have been, Jennifer Brady has had it worse. 

A foot injury gave way to a knee injury that required surgery, meaning that the former UCLA star missed just under two-and-a-half years starting from the end of the 2023 season. 

The health issues came after Brady’s power baseline game helped her reach the 2020 US Open semifinals and 2021 Australian Open final — both times downed by Naomi Osaka. It was a classic in New York.

Brady, now 30 and ranked outside the top 800, returned at the same lower-level event in San Diego that Korda played in. 

Brady then lost in qualifying at the WTA stop in Austin last week. 

Awaiting the wildcard at Stadium 2 is world No. 57 Antonia Ruzic, whose mix of counterpunching and attack resembles 2015 Indian Wells champ Simona Halep. 

In her previous tournament, Ruzic reached the quarterfinals at the WTA 1000 in Dubai as a lucky loser.