INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016/BNP PARIBAS OPEN RICKY’S PICKS FOR TUESDAY

Written by: Staff on 15th March 2016

INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016/BNP PARIBAS OPEN RICKY'S PICKS FOR TUESDAY |

Photo by Francisco Resendiz

Ricky’s picks for Tuesday’s men’s matches in Indian Wells

By Ricky Dimon

Third-round action in the men’s singles competition at the BNP Paribas Open will conclude on Tuesday. Both Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal are taking the court for respective showdowns against Philipp Kohlschreiber and Fernando Verdasco. An American-heavy schedule also features John Isner, Jack Sock, Sam Querrey, and Steve Johnson. Ricky previews the matches and makes his picks.

(4) Rafael Nadal vs. Fernando Verdasco: Nadal is dominating the head-to-head series 14-3, but Verdasco is 3-1 in their last four after stunning his heavily-favored countryman 7-6(6), 4-6, 3-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 in the first round of this year’s Australian Open. Will Nadal be able to turn the tide against his Indian Wells doubles partner? The world No. 5 played decently enough in a 6-2, 2-6, 6-4 victory over Gilles Muller on Sunday night. Nadal in 3.

Alexander Zverev vs. (16) Gilles Simon: There’s something about Simon and losing the first five games of his matches against Vasek Pospisil. The Frenchman did it In Davis Cup and again on Sunday. He stormed back to win the former 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 and the latter 1-6, 6-0, 6-1. Now he faces a similar style of player (but at the moment far better than Pospisil) in Zverev. The 18-year-old German is coming off grueling Davis Cup duty and consecutive Indian Wells three-setters against Ivan Dodig and Grigor Dimitrov. That may be a bad recipe heading into a showdown with one of the most consistent and best defensive players on tour. Simon in 3.

(11) Dominic Thiem vs. (21) Jack Sock: Thiem and Sock also went head-to-head in the Miami third round last spring, with Thiem rolling 6-4, 6-3. It may not be so routine this time around. This surface is perfect for Sock and Thiem has to be fatigued from having played so much recent tennis. That being said, the Austrian is the ATP Tour leader in wins this season and is playing with incredible confidence. This should be a fun one. Thiem in 3.

Photo by Francisco Resendiz

(31) Sam Querrey vs. (7) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga: Querrey is finally heating up after a lackluster 2015 campaign with a title in Delray Beach and a semifinal showing in Acapulco. This is a good opportunity for the American, as Tsonga has never played his best tennis at the BNP Paribas Open. Unfortunately for Querrey, he has never been one to make the most of good opportunities. Tsonga in 2.

(1) Novak Djokovic vs. (27) Philipp Kohlschreiber: Kohlschreiber was absolutely on fire in a 6-0, 6-1 rout of Denis Kudla in the second round. Djokovic, on the other hand, was nothing of the sort in his Indian Wells opener (beat Bjorn Fratangelo 2-6, 6-1, 6-2). Compounded with needing five sets to defeat Mikhail Kukushkin in Davis Cup, this is a bit worrying for the world No. 1. But the chances are good that he will treat these performances as wake-up calls and make easier work of an opponent against whom he is 7-1 lifetime, including 6-1 in their last six. Djokovic in 2.

(18) Feliciano Lopez vs. (14) Roberto Bautista Agut: It’s been an all-Spanish affair for Lopez so far in the desert. He trounced countryman Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in his opener and will now face Bautista Agut. Interestingly, this is RBA’s first match of the fortnight. He got a bye and then a walkover from Mikhail Youzhny. The 14th seed has been on fire this season and should be able to keep it up. Bautista Agut in 3.

(9) John Isner vs. Adrian Mannarino: Mannarino benefited from facing Lukas Rosol in the first round and Benoit Paire in the second. This is where the favorable draw ends for the Frenchman. Perhaps no court suits Isner’s game better than those in Indian Wells, which basically is something in between clay and a standard hard court. Isner’s shots fly through the air and jump off the court with an extreme kick. The 6’10” American reached the semifinals in 2014 and has not lost to anyone except Djokovic at this tournament since 2013. Isner in 2.

(30) Steve Johnson vs. (5) Kei Nishikori: Johnson is a fan favorite, and not just because he is an American. The No. 30 seed hails from Southern California and was a four-year college star at USC. He got off to a strong start at this event by clobbering John Millman 6-4, 6-2 on Sunday. Unfortunately for Johnson, Nishikori played extremely well in Davis Cup action earlier this month, rolled over Mikhail Kukushkin on Sunday, and is 3-0 lifetime in this head-to-head series. Nishikori in 2.