Aussie Open champion Jannik Sinner will look to continue his perfect record in 2024 against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff on Sunday in Indian Wells. Alex de Minaur will also be in action against Alexander Bublik.
(3) Jannik Sinner vs. (25) Jan-Lennard Struff
The BNP Paribas Open seeds have held up well so far, especially on the bottom half of the draw. On Sunday we will get the first look of seed vs. seed this fortnight. The matchup between Jannik Sinner and Jan-Lennard Struff may not end up being very competitive, however. First, Sinner has positioned himself as the best player on tour at the moment. He is a perfect 13-0 on the season, with a pair of titles at the Australian Open and Rotterdam to show for his efforts.
Simply put, Sinner is the man to beat right now. Struff is ranked 25th in the world, but that success has little to do with his form so far in 2024. The 33-year-old German has only managed to win a single match at a time this entire season and the fact that his second match played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is against Sinner doesn’t bode well for his chances to break that pattern.
Look for another straight-set victory for Sinner as he breezes into the next round.
Cheryl pick: Sinner in 2
Ricky pick: Sinner in 2
(10) Alex de Minaur vs. (20) Alexander Bublik
Unlike the Sinner match, this one has the ingredients for a barnburner. First, both Alex de Minaur and Alexander Bublik are in great form. Bublik, the world No. 20 from Kazakhstan, won the title in Montpellier earlier this year and comes into this week off a run to the final in Dubai–where he lost in straight sets to Ugo Humbert. De Minaur did one better in Acapulco, taking the title with a win over Casper Ruud.
De Minaur has come out ahead in his two previous matches against Bublik, but one was a retirement, so it’s not possible to determine much about matchup from a single completed match. The surface in Indian Wells has traditionally favored fit players, and De Minaur has been to the fourth round twice in the past few years; he is no stranger to success in the California desert.
This one should be a real treat. Expect plenty of exciting rallies and some dramatics from the often-entertaining Bublik. De Minaur is the more consistent of the two men and that gives him an edge, but he probably won’t get through this without a fight.
Cheryl pick: De Minaur in 3
Ricky pick: De Minaur in 2
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