WTA - Indian Wells 1R start

First round commenced in Indian Wells.

2021 BNP Paribas Open - a WTA 1000 tournament, on Hard, in Indian Wells, California, USA, 4-17 October 2021.

Event not held last year due to COVID-19

Originally scheduled for 10-21 March 2021

Defending champion (2019):

Wildcard Bianca Andreescu who defeated Angelique Kerber (8) 6-4 3-6 6-4

Caty McNally withdrew after the main draw was published due to injury, and was replaced by lucky loser Jasmine Paolini.

First round results:

- Arantxa Rus defeated qualifier Alycia Parks 6-0 6-1

- Magda Linette defeated Rebecca Peterson 3-6 6-3 6-2

- Aliaksandra Sasnovich defeated Maria Camila Osorio Serrano 6-0 6-4

- Marta Kostyuk defeated Zhang Shuai 6-3 1-6 6-2

- Lucky loser Jasmine Paolini defeated qualifier Mai Hontama 6-0 3-6 6-2

- Sloane Stephens defeated Heather Watson 6-7(5) 7-5 6-1

- Misaki Doi defeated Ann Li 6-2 5-7 7-5

- Tereza Martincova defeated wildcard Ashlyn Krueger 6-2 7-6(1)

- Shelby Rogers defeated Anhelina Kalinina 7-6(2) 6-2

- Irina-Camelia Begu defeated Fiona Ferro 6-2 7-6(2)

- Alizé Cornet defeated qualifier Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-3 7-6(5)

- Madison Keys defeated Kaia Kanepi 6-0 7-5

- Yulia Putintseva defeated Andrea Petkovic 7-6(2) 6-1

- Hsieh Su-wei defeated Madison Brengle 6-1 7-6(4)

- Liudmila Samsonova defeated qualifier Kateryna Kozlova 6-4 7-6(6)

- Petra Martic defeated wildcard Katie Volynets 6-4 6-4