“They are so dangerous,” Patrick Mouratoglou picks his favorite ATP players to win at Indian Wells

Serena Williams' former coach Patrick Mouratoglou picked three players who can emerge victorious in the ongoing Indian Wells Open.

“They are so dangerous,” Patrick Mouratoglou picks his favorite ATP players to win at Indian Wells

Patrick Mouratoglou (Image via Vogue)

Naomi Osaka‘s coach Patrick Mouratoglou picked Carlos Alcaraz, Alexander Zverev, and Taylor Fritz as the favorites to win at Indian Wells. Season’s first ATP 1000 Masters tournament is underway and Alcaraz will be bidding for his third consecutive title in the Californian desert.

World No.1 Jannik Sinner is not participating as he’s serving his three-month doping ban. Zverev, No.2 ranked, will be the top seed and will be chasing his first title. He produced his best performance when he made it to the quarterfinals in 2021 and 2024.

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Alcaraz, apart from his two successful campaigns in the previous two editions of Indian Wells, made it to the semifinals in 2022. His game suits slower surfaces so it will be interesting to see how he fares as the surface this year has been changed from Plexipave to Laykold.

Fritz scripted history in 2022 when he beat Rafael Nadal in the final to become the first American men’s singles champion since Andre Agassi in 2001. The American, who last year reached the summit clashes of the US Open and the ATP Finals, is also a semifinalist in 2021.

For sure, Alcaraz, won last year, number three in the world, coming back to being in good shape. Zverev, number two, is more and more solid. We feel that he can win any Masters 1000. The third one is not as easy. I would say Taylor Fritz. His ranking, he won the tournament already in the past, and playing in the US for American players, we know that they are so dangerous on their home soil.

Patrick Mouratoglou said on Instagram

Patrick Mouratoglou picks his dark horse for Indian Wells

According to Patrick Mouratoglou, apart from the aforementioned players, Ben Shelton and Tomas Machac have the ability to finally win their career’s first Indian Wells title. Shelton is another talented youngster on the tour but is yet to reach the Indian Wells quarterfinals.

Ben Shelton
Ben Shelton (Image via X)

Last year, he advanced to the fourth round while in 2023, he was knocked out of the second round. Machac, on the other hand, never progressed to the third round in his two appearances in 2022 and 2024.

The first one is Shelton, I think this guy can play incredible tennis. I think the conditions are good for him also. The ball bounces very high in Indian Wells, and with his serve, I think he’s going to be very annoying for the guys. And the second, I want to name is Tomas Machac, who just won UTS.

Patrick Mouratoglou said on Instagram

Shelton, the 11th seed, has received a bye and doesn’t yet know who he will be facing in his opening-round match. Machac is set to lock horns with Yosuke Watanuki in the round of 64.