INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016 BNP PARIBAS OPEN – RICKY’S PICKS FOR MONDAY’S MEN’S MATCHES

Written by: Staff on 14th March 2016

INDIAN WELLS TENNIS 2016 BNP PARIBAS OPEN - RICKY'S PICKS FOR MONDAY'S MEN'S MATCHES

epa05208822 Stan Wawrinka from Switzerland in action against Illya Marchenko from Ukraine during their second round match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 12 March 2016. Wawrinka won 6-3, 6-2. EPA/MIKE NELSON |

By Ricky Dimon

Third-round action in the men’s singles competition at the BNP Paribas Open will begin on Monday. A jam-packed schedule includes Andy Murray, Stan Wawrinka, Tomas Berdych, and Richard Gasquet, just to name a few. Ricky previews the matches and makes his picks for who will advance to the last 16 in Indian Wells.

Federico Delbonis vs. (2) Andy Murray: Delbonis saved us from the 4000th meeting between Murray Joao Sousa. That being said, Murray vs. Delbonis is likely to be similarly uncompetitive. This is a steep step up in competition from Sousa and Santiago Giraldo, and it is one that may be too steep for the Argentine. Murray in 2.

(8) Richard Gasquet vs. (26) Alexandr Dolgopolov: Dolgopolov advanced to the Indian Wells semifinals in 2014, upsetting Rafael Nadal in the process. He reached the third round last year before succumbing to Milos Raonic. The Ukrainian quite simply loves this event. At the same time, Gasquet has been outstanding since returning from injury last month and his second-rounder against Nicolas Mahut on Saturday was no different. This should be a great one. Dolgopolov in 2.

(17) Bernard Tomic vs. (12) Milos Raonic: Raonic is playing his first tournament since the Australian Open because of an adductor injury, but early returns are encouraging. The 14th-ranked Canadian won his first doubles match with John Isner and had no problem disposing of Inigo Cervantes in his opening singles effort. Raonic in 2.

(6) Tomas Berdych vs. Borna Coric: Their only previous meeting came last summer on the grass courts of Halle, where Berdych cruised 6-3, 6-2. This one should be more competitive, as Coric is coming off Davis Cup heroics (beat Belgium’s Kimmer Coppejans in a decisive fifth rubber to help Croatia advance) and Indian Wells defeats of Lucas Pouille and Thomaz Bellucci. Once again, however, Berdych will likely overpower Coric in the end. Berdych in 2.

Andrey Kuznetsov vs. (3) Stan Wawrinka: Kuznetsov is in the midst of his most consistent season on tour. Unfortunately for the underdog, Wawrinka just captured a title in Dubai. The fourth-ranked Swiss should be comfortable in these conditions, too, because he just played a night-session match on Saturday. Another straight-set win in front of the night crowd is probably in the cards. Wawrinka in 2.

(13) Gael Monfils vs. Albert Ramos-Vinolas: Commiserations to anyone in Indian Wells, because they could have gotten to see Monfils vs. Nick Kyrgios. Alas, Kyrgios was still clearly under the weather and was promptly bounced out of the tournament by Ramos-Vinolas–while incurring a point penalty in the process. As long as Monfils stays focused, the Spaniard’s run will come to an end. Monfils in 2.

(15) David Goffin vs. Guido Pella: Goffin escaped what would have been an absolute breakout performance by American teenager Frances Tiafoe, as the Belgian saved two match points on Saturday before surviving in a third-set tiebreaker. With one match under his belt, Goffin should be more comfortable in this one. And he’ll have to be, because Pella has been in great form in 2016. Goffin in 2.