The remaining fourth-round spots on the Indian Wells Masters shall be handed out on Monday, when Taylor Fritz faces fellow American Alex Michelsen. Daniil Medvedev continues his title quest in opposition to Sebastian Baez.
Alex Michelsen vs. (7) Taylor Fritz
The BNP Paribas Open is an acceptable setting for this showdown that includes fellow California natives. The crowd will undoubtedly be engrossed in what’s simply the second head-to-head contest between Fritz and Michelsen. Their solely earlier encounter got here on the pink clay of Geneva in 2024, when Michelsen prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
You need to assume Fritz will get revenge on his Indian Wells stomping grounds. This has at all times been the 28-year-old’s favourite match, which he gained in 2022 after reaching the semifinals in 2021. Fritz opened with a 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-1 victory over Jake Fearnley on Saturday, however he was the dominant participant from begin to end regardless of throwing away the second set in stunning trend. Michelsen is coming off a a lot more durable three-set thriller in opposition to Ugo Humbert late on Saturday night time — which the 21-year-old survived 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(6) after two hours and 46 minutes. He preceded that consequence with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over qualifier Daniel Meria. Michelsen is taking part in nicely, however Fritz is extra rested and is trying like a professional contender to as soon as once more attain no less than the semis in Tennis Paradise.
Pick: Fritz in 2
(11) Daniil Medvedev vs. Sebastian Baez
Medvedev took the circuitous route from Dubai to Indian Wells — and he didn’t have any alternative. Amidst the continuing warfare within the Middle East, his journey included a seven-hour automobile journey to Oman after which a number of airplane flights that went from Istanbul ultimately to Palm Springs. Whatever the case, there seems to be no stopping Medvedev. The Eleventh-ranked Russian is 14-3 this season with two titles (together with Dubai), and he thrashed Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 6-2 in his Indian Wells opener on Saturday night time.
Up subsequent for the 29-year-old on Monday is a second encounter with Baez, who misplaced their solely earlier assembly 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(6) on the 2023 U.S. Open. This is sort of merely a matchup between two of the most well liked gamers on tour, as Baez has already earned a whopping 14 ATP-level match wins in 2026. The 53rd-ranked Argentine has superior this fortnight by ousting Chun-Hsin Tseng and Jiri Lehecka in straight units. Conditions at this occasion are certainly not unhealthy for Baez, however he nonetheless can’t be trusted on any floor apart from true clay.
Pick: Medvedev in 2
