The first Masters 1000 event of the year for ATP players begins in Indian Wells. The draw contains many terrific players, despite three ATP players withdrawing from the event. Although the top 32 seeds receive a bye to the next round, there is still a busy and exciting first day of action scheduled. 2022 Cincinnati Masters champion Borna Coric’s match is one of four contests predicted in this article. Which players do you think will advance?
ATP Indian Wells Day 1 Predictions
Emil Ruusuvuori vs Dusan Lajovic
Head-to-head: Lajovic 1-0 Ruusuvuori
It has been a very encouraging start to the season for Ruusuvuori. After reaching the final in Hong Kong to open the season, he made two more quarterfinals and almost defeated Daniil Medvedev at the Australian Open. Lajovic is still playing good tennis at the age of 33. However, he is a better clay court player. His previous win against Ruusuvori did come on a hard court, but that was in 2021, when the 24-year-old was not close to the player he is now. Expect Ruusuvuori to have too much firepower for Lajovic at ATP Indian Wells.
Prediction: Ruusuvuori in 2
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Yannick Hanfmann vs Pedro Cachin
Head-to-head: Hanfmann 1-0 Cachin
These two have been struggling for wins this year, but Cachin’s difficulties have been the more pronounced of the two. The Argentine has lost every match he has played in 2024, whether that is in the main draw or qualifying stages of tournaments. Hanfmann would be the favourite on a hard court regardless. Although he, like Cachin, prefers clay, his game is more adaptable to other surfaces when it is flourishing. The German’s hitting can sometimes be wayward, but it is hard to to make a case for Cachin triumphing in Indian Wells right now.
Prediction: Hanfmann in 2
Alexander Shevchenko vs Domink Koepfer
Head-to-head: First meeting
Shevchenko had some good results at indoor tournaments after the Australian Open, but he has lost his last two outdoor hard court matches to French stalwart Richard Gasquet and Daniil Medvedev. Koepfer has been in decent form recently and pushed last year’s French Open quarterfinalist Holger Rune to the brink in Acapulco last week. Shevchenko’s level can fluctuate a lot, and his matches are hard to predict, but I think Koepfer could be a little too solid for him at ATP Indian Wells. The German’s left-handed forehand with heavy topspin could extract many errors from Shevchenko, who likes to hit the ball flat.
Prediction: Koepfer in 3
Borna Coric vs Sebastian Ofner
Head-to-head: First meeting
Coric has suffered two first-round losses in a row since losing the final in Montpellier a few weeks ago, as he did seem to be enduring a hangover from that defeat. Ofner had a great season last year, but he has not started 2024 particularly well. The Austrian also prefers playing on clay, despite making progress on hard courts in 2023. This seems like a good match for Coric to get back on track. Ofner is a plucky competitor at his best, but Coric’s hitting from the baseline should get him the win in Indian Wells.
Prediction: Coric in 2
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Main Photo Credit: Susan Mullane – USA TODAY Sports
