Before each day of play at Indian Wells, we'll preview and predict three must-see matches. For full coverage of the BNP Paribas Open, go to our men’s and women’s tournament pages.
DOMINIC THIEM [8] VS. MISCHA ZVEREV [29]
As far as rivalries go, Thiem is better known for the one he’s building with Zverev’s younger brother, Alexander—it’s many people’s belief that they’ll play for a French Open title in the coming years. But in this early-afternoon meeting in the main stadium, Thiem will have to face Mischa, who is a very different, older, and craftier player. Instead of Mach-10 serves and ground strokes, Thiem will be dealing with lefty slices, angles, volleys and touch shots, as well the pressure of having to come up with passing shots from start to finish. Will Thiem’s one-handed backhand return stand up to Zverev’s lefty can-opener spin? The last time they played, on grass in Stuttgart in 2015, it didn’t; Zverev won in straights. This will be an interesting test of how far Thiem has come since.
Winner: Thiem
GAEL MONFILS [10] VS. JOHN ISNER [20]
The 30-year-old Frenchman and the 31-year-old American have played eight times, and they’ve split those matches evenly. The last time they faced off in the States, at the 2013 U.S. Open, the crowd in Louis Armstrong Stadium actually chanted for Monfils. Isner shouldn’t have to worry about that in Indian Wells, where he’s a fan favorite and where he has played some of his best tennis. Monfils is ranked 11th to Isner’s 22nd, and so far this year he hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down or growing disinterested after his banner season. Isner, meanwhile, has had his ups and downs. But he should be up for this late-afternoon match in the big stadium.
Winner: Isner
MADISON KEYS [9] VS. NAOMI OSAKA
Keys made her 2017 debut off-Broadway, on a side court early in the day. Now the top-ranked American woman at Indian Wells gets the star treatment: A main stadium night match against her teenage opponent, Naomi Osaka. It doesn’t take much to imagine how this one will play out; these two women know both how to hit the ball one way—as hard as they can. That could make for major fireworks or an equally major fizzle. The last time they played, at the U.S. Open in 2016, it was the former. Osaka led 5-1 in the third set, before Keys powered all the way back for the win. The fans in Indian Wells probably wouldn’t mind seeing something like that again.
Winner: Keys
