Day 7 at ATP Indian Wells will feature the Round of 16 of the bottom half of the draw. Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz and recent Australian Open champion Jannik Sinner will take the court, along with Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. It should be a day filled with exciting and high-quality matches on the men’s side of the draw. But who will advance?
ATP Indian Wells Day 7 Predictions
Jiri Lehecka vs Stefanos Tsitsipas
Head-to-head: Tsitsipas 2-0 Lehecka
After a very rough start to 2024, Tsitsipas desperately needs a big run here to get his season back on track. Tomorrow, he faces an opponent he beat in the quarterfinals of last year’s Australian Open (en route to the final) and against whom he will definitely favored. Lehecka started the season very well with a title in Adelaide but he has struggled since; his victory over Rublev, however, suggests that he might be getting back on track and be able to cause Tsitsipas some serious issues.
Prediction: Tsitsipas in 3
Ben Shelton vs Jannik Sinner
Head-to-head: Shelton 1-1 Sinner
Sinner has been having an absolutely exceptional season. He hasn’t lost a single match (14-0) and won titles at the Australian Open and in Rotterdam. Shelton, on the other hand, hasn’t really lived up to expectations so far. That said, both matches the pair played late last year were extremely tight, with Shelton showing he has the weapons to trouble Sinner. Given how well Sinner has been playing, he’s likely to find a way to victory in a decider.
Prediction: Sinner in 3
Carlos Alcaraz vs Fabian Marozsan
Head-to-head: Marozsan 1-0 Alcaraz
Marozsan’s win over Alcaraz in Rome was one of the big upsets of 2023, but the Hungarian has made big strides since and established himself at ATP level. He’s been playing some great tennis so far at ATP Indian Wells and could really trouble the defending champion, who has been far from his best so far this year and really ever since winning Wimbledon last summer. That said, Alcaraz’s movement should be the difference on the slow desert courts.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 3
Alexander Zverev vs Alex de Minaur
Head-to-head: Zverev 6-2 De Minaur
De Minaur is having easily the best year of his career so far, while Zverev has been struggling after the Australian Open, and ATP Indian Wells is the only Masters where he’s yet to make a semifinal. Despite the fact that De Minaur never won this matchup outside of the United Cup, on current form and considering the court conditions, he has a slight edge here. It should be a blockbuster.
Prediction: De Minaur in 3
Main Photo Credit: Geoff Burke – USA TODAY Sports
