The first ATP Masters 1000 event of the season, the BNP Paribas Open, kicks off in Indian Wells, promising two weeks of entertaining tennis. As always, the draw is stacked with top players. This article features young American talent, Nishesh Basavareddy, who will take on China’s Yunchaokete Bu. As ever, we at LWOT will offer predictions for every match on the slate for day 1. But who will advance?
ATP Indian Wells Day 1 Predictions
Roberto Carballes Baena vs Christopher O’Connell
Head-to-Head: Carballes Baena 1-0 O’Connell
Roberto Carballes Baena started the season in a promising manner, winning five of his first eight matches. However, he has gone cold since then and has lost four matches in a row, winning just one set in those four encounters. Christopher O’Connell, on the other hand, has played good tennis consistently and all his losses have come against players ranked above him. This is the second Indian Wells main-draw appearance for the Australian and the surface change might help his game. Considering the form, I have O’Connell as a slight favourite.
Prediction: O’Connell in 3
Marcos Giron vs Nikoloz Basilashvili
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Marcos Giron will make his sixth main draw appearance in Indian Wells and will hope to improve on his previous performance. The conditions have never favoured Giron’s game but the lower bounce due to surface change could help him this time. He has been in good form this season, making three quarterfinals from four tournaments. Nikoloz Basilashvili did well to qualify for the main draw and is a former finalist here, but his inconsistent game can not be trusted.
Prediction: Giron in 3
Alexander Bublik vs Yosuke Watanuki
Head-to-Head: first meeting
Alexander Bublik has dropped down to #82 in the rankings, his worst since 2019. He has won just two matches this season from nine matches and is on a three-match losing streak. Given the slow conditions and the threat of wind, this does not appear to be the perfect tournament for Bublik to regain his form. Yosuke Watanuki played two perfect matches in qualifying and has already gotten used to the conditions. I am taking the Japanese on this one.
Prediction: Watanuki in 3
Nishesh Basavareddy vs Yunchaokete Bu
Head-to-Head: first meeting
19-year-old Nishesh Basavareddy has impressed everyone with his complete tennis, and a win here would guarantee him a top-100 debut. The American wild card should thrive in the slow desert conditions with impressive control behind his shots and excellent defense. Yunchaokete Bu has more power but Basavareddy has the game to absorb the pace and redirect it brilliantly. I expect a winning start to the young American’s Masters 1000 career.
Prediction: Basavareddy in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
