Third round singles action concludes on Monday in tennis paradise.
The schedule is headlined by yet another meeting of WTA Major singles champions this fortnight, and two former champions of this event, as 2019 champ Bianca Andreescu faces 2022 champ Iga Swiatek. That will begin the evening session on Stadium 1, while an interesting encounter between British favorite Andy Murray and British newcomer Jack Draper will begin the evening session on Stadium 2.
Monday’s Order of Play also boasts many other compelling singles matchups, featuring names like Carlos Alcaraz, Ons Jabeur, and Stan Wawrinka. And in doubles, the top seeds in both the men’s and women’s draws face teams made up of noteworthy singles players.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Monday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Iga Swiatek (1) vs. Bianca Andreescu (32) – Not Before 6:00pm on Stadium 1
Since the start of 2022, Swiatek is now 80-12, with nine titles. She’s the defending champion at this event, and in her opening match against Claire Liu, dropped only one game.
Andreescu’s phenomenal 2019 season started in earnest at this tournament, when she upset Angelique Kerber in the final. But she is yet to come anywhere close to her 2019 level since injuries prevented her from playing at all in 2020. Bianca is off to a modest 6-5 start this year, and battled past American wild card Peyton Stearns in three sets on Saturday.
Their only previous meeting occurred last May in Rome on clay, where Swiatek prevailed in straight sets. Andreescu is a much more dangerous threat on hard courts, especially in North America. However, Iga still must be favored based on both players’ recent form.
Jack Draper vs. Andy Murray – Not Before 6:00pm on Stadium 2
Murray has been the most exciting tennis player to watch in 2023. After his thrilling five-set victories over Matteo Berrettini and Thanasi Kokkinakis in Melbourne, he reached the final in Doha by winning four consecutive three-setters. Andy is 8-3 this season, easily his best start to a season since 2017.
Draper is a fellow Brit, but is 15 years younger than Murray. The 21-year-old broke out last year by winning 46 matches at all levels, which included four Challenger titles on hard courts. He is 6-3 in 2023, and did not drop a set in two matches this past week at Indian Wells.
Jack’s huge serve and aggressive style could create trouble for Andy on Monday. However, playing such a respected figure from your own country is never an easy task. And based on Murray’s current level of confidence, I like Andy’s chances to prevail in their first meeting in tour.
Other Notable Matches on Monday:
Leylah Fernandez (30) vs. Caroline Garcia (5) – Garcia was in superb form to end 2022, and she’s a strong 16-6 to start 2023, having reached two finals since the Australian Open. Fernandez’s 2022 was disrupted by the foot injury she suffered at Roland Garros, and she’s yet to play her best tennis since. This past January in Melbourne, Caroline defeated Leylah in a tight two-setter.
Hubert Hurkacz (9) vs. Tommy Paul (17) – Hurkacz is 13-5 this year, and was the champion a few weeks ago in Marseille. Paul is coming off his first Major semifinal in Melbourne, and followed that up by advancing to the final in Acapulco. Hubi beat Tommy in straight sets at the 2021 Paris Masters.
Elena Rybakina (10) vs. Paula Badosa (21) – Rybakina is 11-4 on the season, and took out Sofia Kenin after two tight sets on Saturday. Badosa arrived at Indian Wells on a three-match losing streak, and had to pull out of the Australian Open due to injury. But she is 4-1 against Rybakina at all levels.
Stan Wawrinka (PR) vs. Holger Rune (7) – Rune defeated Wawrinka in a third-set tiebreak at the Paris Masters, after saving three match points. Stan scolded the teenager at the net after the match, as he did not appreciate Holger’s behavior during the match, calling him a “baby.”
Ons Jabeur (4) vs. Marketa Vondrousova – This is a rematch from January’s Australian Open, when Vondrousova upset a less-than-100% Jabeur in three sets. Ons claimed their other two recent tour-level meetings.
Wesley Koolhof and Neal Skupski (1) vs. Frances Tiafoe and Stan Wawrinka (PR) – Koolhof and Skupski won seven titles as a team in 2022, and are 8-5 to start 2023. This is Tiafoe and Wawrinka’s first tournament as a team since January of 2020, and they received a walkover in the first round.
Barbora Krejcikova and Katerina Siniakova (1) vs. Leylah Fernandez and Taylor Townend (WC) – Krejcikova and Siniakova have won the last four Majors they’ve entered as a team, including this year’s Aussie Open. This is the first time Fernandez and Townsend have partnered together.
Carlos Alcaraz (1) vs. Tallon Griekspoor (31) – Alcaraz looked sharp in his opening round, easily dispatching of Thanasi Kokkinakis. Griekspoor is 13-4 this year, having won a title in Pune and reached a semifinal in Rotterdam. Last summer at Wimbledon, Alcaraz overcame Griekspoor in straight sets.
Monday’s full Order of Play is here.
