Solana Sierra defeated favoured Peyton Stearns 7–5, 7–5 in the first round of the WTA 1000 Indian Wells tournament on hard court on 6 March 2026, an upset victory given Stearns' odds of 1.18 to Sierra's 4.57. Sierra's straight-sets win over the seeded American marks a significant scalp at the Masters 1000 level and suggests improved form heading into the tournament's later rounds.