On Sunday, Andy Murray and Leylah Fernandez energized the crowds with enthralling three-set victories. Murray overcame Carlos Alcaraz in the afternoon, and Fernandez outlasted Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova in the evening. On Tuesday, Andy faces Olympic gold medalist Sascha Zverev, while Leylah takes on American Shelby Rogers, who has dropped only eight games across her last five sets.
Tuesday will be a busy day in tennis paradise. It will see the bottom half of the men’s singles draw complete third round action, while the entire women’s draw will contest their fourth round matches. And thankfully, the rainy and windy conditions of Monday evening will not continue, as the forecast calls for clear skies and cool temperatures.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Tuesday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Leylah Fernandez (23) vs. Shelby Rogers – Second on Stadium 1
Fernandez has continued to create magic just as she did in New York. After a straight-forward victory over Alize Cornet, she came back from a set down against tenth-seeded Pavlyuchenkova to prevail 6-4 in the third. But as aforementioned, Shelby Rogers has been dominating the competition this fortnight. She also had a great run at the US Open, upsetting World No.1 Ash Barty in a third set tiebreak. However, she was derailed in the next round by the event’s other breakout teenager, Emma Raducanu. The eventual champion thumped Rogers 6-2, 6-1. These two played last summer in Lexington as the tour restarted, when both were ranked outside the top 100. On that day, Shelby won in straight sets. The American crowds have fallen in love with Leylah’s infectious energy and competitive spirit, though they’ll be less likely to cheer for her so ferociously against an American. And based on Shelby’s current form, I like her chances of advancing to the quarterfinals.
Sascha Zverev (3) vs. Andy Murray (WC) – Third on Stadium 1
Murray has oddly been the player asked more than anyone about the domestic abuse allegations against Zverev, and has been outspoken in recommending the sport be more proactive in addressing them. Last year at the Western & Southern Open, Murray claimed what was likely his biggest win since 2017, when he took out Zverev 7-5 in the third. Andy also won their other previous matchup, at the 2016 Australian Open, when Zverev was ranked only 83rd in the world. Murray has looked more like his old self at this event than he has in some time, but he must be physically drained coming off an over three-hour encounter in the heat of the afternoon against Carlos Alcaraz. Zverev also played a three-setter on Sunday, though he needed less than two hours to dispatch Jenson Brooksby. Andy would love to defeat a top name and reestablish himself as a true title contender, especially after coming so close to upsetting Stefanos Tsitsipas at the US Open. But having won 18 of his last 19 hard court matches, Zverev is a significant favorite to reach the round of 16 at Indian Wells for only the second time in his career.
Other Notable Matches on Tuesday:
Elina Svitolina (4) vs. Jessica Pegula (19) – Svitolina narrowly escaped the last round, defeating Sorana Cirstea in a third set tiebreak. Pegula is yet to drop a set. These players split two meetings early this year.
Matteo Berrettini (5) vs. Taylor Fritz (31) – Their only prior meeting was two years ago in the revamped Davis Cup, when Fritz won in three sets.
Iga Swiatek (2) vs. Jelena Ostapenko (24) – This match features two recent and surprising French Open champions. Swiatek has only allowed opponents five games through two matches thus far.
Pablo Carreno Busta (12) vs. Karen Khachanov (24) – It’s a battle between the Olympic silver and bronze medalists. In that event’s semifinals, Khachanov won in straight sets, though they are 3-3 lifetime, with their other five matchups all coming at Masters 1000 tournaments.
Barbora Krejcikova (3) vs. Paula Badosa (21) – Krejcokova’s incredible run continues, as she’s 31-3 since late-May. Badosa eliminated Coco Gauff on Monday evening, and defeated Krejcikova back in April in Madrid.
Su-Wei Hsieh and Elise Mertens (2) vs. Leylah Fernandez and Coco Gauff – On Monday, Hsieh and Mertens avenged a painful Roland Garros loss to Mattek-Sands and Swiatek. Gauff and Fernandez have not lost a set through two matches in their first event as a team.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (2) vs. Fabio Fognini (25) – Tsitsipas is 2-0 against Fognini, and neither match has been close.
Tuesday’s full Order of Play is here.
