ATP Indian Wells predictions: Alcaraz and Djokovic collision opens door for upset

When does ATP Indian Wells start

The ATP Indian Wells Masters begins at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California, on Wednesday, March 5.

Where to watch the ATP Indian Wells in the UK

Live on Sky Sports Tennis, from 7pm Wednesday

Best bets for the ATP Indian Wells 

Stefanos Tsitsipas
1pt each-way 18-1 Coral, Ladbrokes

Tommy Paul
0.5pt each-way 40-1 BoyleSports, Coral, Ladbrokes

ATP Indian Wells predictions

The doping suspension being served by world number one Jannik Sinner has left fierce rival Carlos Alcaraz as favourite to make it a hat-trick of wins at the Indian Wells Masters.

However, the Spaniard is on course to collide with five-time champion Novak Djokovic in a blockbuster quarter-final and that may leave the door open for a shock result.

Swerving Alcaraz and Djokovic in the bottom half of the draw looks the strategy for punters to take, especially given the recent struggles of both top seed Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev, who has been runner-up in the last two years.

Zverev played second fiddle to Sinner at the Australian Open in January but he has underwhelmed since, suffering defeats to Francisco Cerundolo, Francisco Comesana and Learner Tien in his last three tournament appearances.

Medvedev, meanwhile, has gone beyond the quarter-final in only one of his five tournament appearances this season and his second-round exit to Tien at the Australian Open, an event he has on three occasions reached the final, displays his vulnerability.

That means the resurgent Stefanos Tsitsipas could be the each-way play after his title triumph at the Dubai Tennis Championships last time out.

The Greek star has made seven Masters 1000 finals, winning three titles, and has a favourable early draw to work with, providing every possibility for him to go on a roll now that confidence has been restored.

With Medvedev under a cloud, last season’s semi-finalist Tommy Paul could be another player worth chancing at bigger odds.

The American tenth seed made the Australian Open quarter-final at the beginning of the year and he should have little to fear from Jiri Lehecka or Medvedev in his section of the draw, making another deep run in California well within his capabilities.

Click for free bets and betting offers from the Racing Post

Commercial notice: This article contains affiliate links. Offers are handpicked and come from operators our experts have first-hand experience of. Opening an account via one of these links will earn revenue for the Racing Post, which will be used to continue producing our award-winning coverage of horseracing and sports betting.