RICKY DIMON’S PICKS FOR INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016 – FRIDAY’S LOOK AHEAD AT FIRST ROUND MATCHES

Written by: Staff on 10th March 2016

RICKY DIMON'S PICKS FOR INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016 - FRIDAY'S LOOK AHEAD AT FIRST ROUND MATCHES

epa05157402 Donald Young of the US hits a return shot to Ricardas Berankis of Lithuania in the quarterfinals of the Memphis Open tennis championship at the Racquet Club of Memphis in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, 12 February 2016. EPA/TANNEN MAURY |

Young among Americans taking the court in Indian Wells on Friday

By Ricky Dimon

Donald Young will contest his first-round match at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday night. Jared Donaldson, who snagged a late wild card when Rajeev Ram got in directly, is also in action. Young is going up against Andreas Seppi, while his fellow American Donaldson is facing Vasek Pospisil. Ricky makes his picks for those two matches along with Guillermo Garcia-Lopez vs. Ernests Gulbis.

Donald Young vs. Andreas Seppi

Seppi and Young will be meeting for the fourth time in their careers. The head-to-head series stands at 2-1 in favor of Seppi, who prevailed in 2011 (Eastbourne) and 2012 (London Olympics). Young took their most recent showdown 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 at the 2014 Australian Open.

At 32 years old, Seppi has dipped to 42nd in the world and is no longer in the serious discussion for seeding at Grand Slams and Masters 1000s. The Italian is a mediocre 5-6 this season and has lost in the first round of consecutive ATP tournaments (Rotterdam and Dubai). Another early exit could be in the cards because although Young has not been spectacular since an amazing run to the U.S. Open fourth round last summer, he has been solid. The world No. 75 has reached at least the second round of three straight tournaments, including a quarterfinal showing in Memphis.

Pick: Young in 3

(WC) Jared Donaldson vs. Vasek Pospisil

The charge of American youngsters continued on Thursday with a three-set victory by Frances Tiafoe over Taylor Fritz. Now it is Donaldson who will be featured on the main court. Donaldson has not quite taken off to the same extent as Fritz, but he still registers at a respectable 158th in the world at just 19 years old. He has struggled this year at both the ATP and Challenger levels and is coming off a first-round qualifying loss in Delray Beach to Dennis Novikov.

Pospisil is once again faring much better in doubles (Rotterdam champion with Nicolas Mahut) than he is in singles (2-7 record this year). The 43rd-ranked Canadian has suffered four first-round exits and he is coming off a Davis Cup rubber against France in which he led Gilles Simon 5-0 in the opening set only to fall 7-5, 6-3, 6-3. A relatively favorable draw against an inexperienced opponent, however, should help Pospisil book a rematch with Simon in round two.

Pick: Pospisil in 3

Ivan Dodig vs. Alexander Zverev

Zverev and Dodig will be squaring off for the second time in their careers. Their only previous meeting came last summer in U.S. Open qualifying, with Zverev getting the job done 7-6(4), 7-5. The 58th-ranked German has been in fine form for the most part during this 2016 campaign, but he is coming off a rough Davis Cup weekend. Zverev lost a five-setter to Tomas Berdych on the opening day before getting clobbered in the decisive fifth rubber 6-2, 6-3, 6-1 by Lukas Rosol.

Alexander Zverev of Germany returns the ball to Andy Murray of Britain in their first round match of the Australian Open Grand Slam tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 19 January 2016. EPA/LUKAS COCH

Dodig had a lighter Davis Cup load, as he contested only the doubles rubber against Belgium for the victorious Croatian team. The world No. 79 has been faring decently in singles this year, having qualified for two tournaments in addition to second-round performances in both Brisbane and Rotterdam. He also finished runner-up at a Challenger event in Canberra. At this Indian Wells tournament in 2015, Dodig beat Joao Sousa before losing a thriller against David Ferrer. This is a good opportunity for the veteran against an opponent who may still be reeling from his Davis Cup heartache.

Pick: Dodig in 3