Indian Wells R1 previews and predictions: Tiafoe vs. Escobedo, Struff vs. De Minaur

It will be an all-American affair when Frances Tiafoe and Ernesto Escobedo begin their 2018 Indian Wells campaigns on Friday. A jam-packed first-round schedule is also wrapping up with a showdown between Jan-Lennard Struff and Alex De Minaur.

Frances Tiafoe vs. (WC) Ernesto Escobedo

Tiafoe and Escobedo will be going head-to-head foe the third time in their careers and for the first time at the ATP level when they clash in round one of the BNP Paribas Open. Escobedo won both of their previous encounters on the Challenger circuit; 6-2, 6-7(6), 7-6(3) in the 2016 Lexington final and and 6-3, 6-7(5), 7-6(2) later that season in the Cary semifinals. It is Tiafoe, however, who is starting to find his form on the main tour and has climbed to No. 64 in the world. In fact, the 20-year-old American just captured his first career ATP title last month in Delray Beach.

Escobedo comes in at 117th in the rankings, with a 13-23 lifetime record at the ATP level (2-4 in 2018). The 21-year-old American enjoyed two productive weeks in February, reaching the second round in both New York and Acapulco as a qualifier. At the latter tournament, Escobedo held off Mackenzie McDonald in a third-set tiebreaker before falling to eventual runner-up Kevin Anderson in a third-set tiebreaker. With major momentum from his Delray Beach title, Tiafoe should be able to avenge his previous losses at Escobedo’s hands in what will be entertaining battle of huge forehands.

Pick: Tiafoe in 3

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Jan-Lennard Struff vs. (WC) Alex De Minaur

Like Tiafoe, De Minaur is making a real name for himself in 2018 as he heads into just his second career appearance at a Masters 1000 event–and first in a main draw. The 19-year-old’s rise, though, has been far more sudden than that of Tiafoe. Previously an unknown commodity, De Minaur treated the home Australian fans to a semifinal run in Brisbane followed by a runner-up performance in Sydney. The world No. 141 has played just two matches since, losing to Tomas Berdych at the Aussie Open before coming up short in a Davis Cup five-setter against Alexander Zverev.

Up first for De Minaur in Indian Wells is Struff, whom he has never faced. The 56th-ranked German has been impressive in doubles this season (Sydney final, Australian Open semifinal, and a huge Davis Cup win over Germany), but he is a mere 3-6 in singles. Struff is just 1-4 in his last five matches dating back to an Aussie Open loss to Roger Federer, beating only world No. 417 Andreas Haider-Maurer during this stretch. This is a good opportunity for De Minaur get back in high gear.

Pick: De Minaur in 3

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