The tennis world shifts its focus to the first ATP Masters 1000 event of the season as the tour heads to southern California for the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The 96-man draw attracts the best players in the world as they compete for one of the most prestigious titles on the tour calendar. Day one in Indian Wells features many intriguing matchups, including a battle between Gael Monfils and Jordan Thompson. As always, we at LWOT have the preview and prediction for that match as well as all other happenings around the grounds of Indian Wells. But who will advance?
ATP Indian Wells Day 1 Predictions
Yibing Wu vs Jaume Munar
Head-to-Head: first meeting
23-year-old Chinese native Yibing Wu has been one of the better early-season stories on the ATP Tour. Wu was the first Chinese man in the Open Era to raise a singles ATP title when he took down Taylor Fritz in the Dallas Open last month. Wu holds a 9-3 record this season and has all the tools to push his way to the top of the sport. In round one in Indian Wells, he will take on Spaniard Jaume Munar. The 25-year-old is coming off a run to the Santiago semifinals, but Munar has always struggled to transition to the hard courts. I believe Wu’s power and consistency from the baseline will overwhelm the Spaniard in this match.
Prediction: Wu in 2
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Ugo Humbert vs Bernabe Zapata Miralles
Head-to-Head: Humbert 1-0 Zapata Miralles
After a rough 2022 season, talented Frenchman Ugo Humbert is starting to string together some wins this year. He holds a 6-2 record since February 1st and gained some confidence last week at the Pau Challenger. He squares off against clay-court ringer Bernabe Zapata Miralles on Wednesday. The 26-year-old Spaniard is coming off back-to-back semifinal runs and is up to a career-high ranking of No. 42. That said, Zapata Miralles is a much different player on hard courts. He is 5-13 in his career in ATP matches on a hard court. Indian Wells is known to be some of the slowest hard courts on tour, but I still have to give the slight edge to Humbert. The Frenchman should take advantage of the conditions.
Prediction: Humbert in 3
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Diego Schwartzman vs Federico Coria
Head-to-Head: Schwartzman 2-0 Coria
Compatriots Diego Schwartzman and Federico Coria square off for the third time as Coria looks to avenge two brutal losses. This would be the time to beat Schwartzman as the veteran Argentine is just 1-14 since the 2022 US Open. Schwartzman has been getting dismantled by much lower-ranked players this season. He lacks both form and confidence, which does not bode well against his countryman, who is 9-2 in his last 11 matches. Coria has never been a strong hardcourt player, but due to Schwartzman’s massive struggles, I give Coria the slight edge in this match.
Prediction: Coria in 3
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Gael Monfils vs Jordan Thompson
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Gael Monfils enters the Indian Wells draw on a Protected Ranking. The 36-year-old Frenchman is playing in his first match in seven months, so predicting what to expect from him is tough. I will say this; Monfils would not be out there if he did not believe he could win a few matches. He squares off against Jordan Thompson in round one, a solid measuring stick for the Frenchman. Thompson is coming off a Challenger title in Rome (GA) but holds just a 1-5 record at the ATP level this season. Monfils should be able to hit through the Aussie and force him into many unforced errors. I give Monfils the slight edge as he returns to the ATP Tour for what looks like one final run.
Prediction: Monfils in 3
Main Photo Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
