The 2021 edition of the ATP Indian Wells Masters is in full flight with the draw whittling down by the day. Several star names are set to take to the court on day four and all will be looking to end the year on a high. As ever, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule, including Pedro Martinez vs Stefanos Tsitsipas, Andy Murray vs Carlos Alcaraz and Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Albert Ramos Vinolas. But who will reach the third round?
ATP Indian Wells Day 4 Predictions
Taylor Fritz vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: Fritz 1-o Nakashima
The battle of the Americans should be a fun one to watch. Taylor Fritz is still only 23-years-old but has been on the tour for some time now and hasn’t quite lived up to the lofty expectations many had from him. Every tournament is a fresh start and a depleted draw in some sense provides a good opportunity for Fritz to showcase is talent.
That’ll be easier said than done though as Brandon Nakashima has improved a lot this year and is one of the talents to watch out for. Nakashima is extremely aggressive and if he’s able to serve well like he did in his first round, Fritz can be in trouble. Expect a great clash between the young players with Nakashima just edging this one.
Prediction: Nakashima in 3
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John Millman vs Jannik Sinner
Head-to-head: first meeting
Jannik Sinner enters the ATP Indian Wells Masters in some form after winning Sofia. The Italian will be looking to continue that form this week and he starts off against John Millman. The Aussie is as tough as they come and showcased his mettle against Jack Sock. These two have never played each other but one feels that Sinner will be the aggressor and Millman will have to do a lot of defending. Expect Millman to nab a set on the back of his consistency but Sinner looks set to progress.
Prediction: Sinner in 3
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Karen Khachanov vs Emil Ruusuvuori
Head-to-head: first meeting
This is a must watch in my opinion. Karen Khachanov isn’t in great form of late whilst Emil Ruusuvuori, after a slow start, blasted through his opponent Dominik Koepfer in the last two sets of their first-round clash at the ATP Indian Wells Masters. The young Finn will look to replicate that performance but it’ll be tough to pull off against the hard hitting Khachanov. The Russian will look to dominate the baseline rallies and his serve needs to fire otherwise it can get very troublesome for Khachanov. Expect a lot of hard hitting from both sides with a lot of momentum swings. Experience triumphs youth this time but only just.
Prediction: Khachanov in 3
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Matteo Berrettini vs Alejandro Tabilo
Head-to-head: first meeting
Matteo Berrettini has had a kind draw this week and the Italian will no doubt be desperate to make full use of it. Alejandro Tabilo hasn’t played a lot at the main draw and it’ll be a rude awakening for the Chilean. It’s unlikely that Tabilo has beaten anyone of the caliber of Matteo Berrettini and it’s not going to happen here. Expect Berrettini to make a strong start here.
Prediction: Berrettini in 2
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