Third-round competition at the BNP Paribas Open wraps up on Monday, when an all-American showdown features Taylor Fritz and Alex Michelsen. Carlos Alcaraz, Jac Draper, and Alex de Minaur are also taking the court.
Here are my picks for two of Monday’s best matchups.
Alex Michelsen vs. (7) Taylor Fritz
The Indian Wells Masters is an appropriate setting for this battle between California natives. The crowd will surely be enthralled by what is only the second head-to-head meeting for Fritz and Michelsen. Their only previous clash came on the clay courts of Geneva two years ago, when Michelsen got the job done 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
You have to think Fritz will get revenge at what is his favorite tournament. The world No. 7 won this event in 2022 after advancing to the semifinals in 2021. Fritz’s current fortnight began with a 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-1 defeat of Jake Fearnley on Saturday, but he was the dominant player from start to finish despite somehow losing the second set. Michelsen is coming off a much more difficult three-set, two-hour and 46-minute struggle with Ugo Humbert — in which the world No. 44 emerged victorious 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(6). Michelsen is in decent form, but Fritz is more rested and is quite simply the better player with more Indian Wells experience.
Pick: Fritz in 2
(27) Cameron Norrie vs. (6) Alex de Minaur
De Minaur and Norrie will be facing each other for the fifth time in their careers. The head-to-head series stands at 2-2, with both of Norrie’s wins coming at the United Cup — most recently in a third-set tiebreaker at the 2024 installment. De Minaur was the winner in three sets at the 2022 Barcelona ATP 500 and in straights at the 2023 Toronto Masters 1000.
Norrie is a former champion in Indian Wells (2021). The British lefty is off to a good start this time, too, as he trounced Mackenzie McDonald 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday. De Minaur is a disappointing 9-7 lifetime in the desert with zero trips past the fourth round. As such, this match could be more competitive than some may expect. Still, De Minaur posted a nice win over Delray Beach champ Sebastian Korda and should be able to battle his way into the last 16.
Pick: De Minaur in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.