Indian Wells Masters 2021: Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction for BNP Paribas Open

After missing out last year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the much awaited Indian Wells Masters is finally here. The mega event in the Californian desert will feature US Open champion as the top seed while Stefanos Tsitsipas is seeded second.

Tournament Details:

• Tournament: Indian Wells 2021
• Date: October 7-October 17,2021
• Number of Entrants: 96 (Singles), 32 (Doubles)
• Venue: Indian Wells, California, USA
• Surface: Hard Court
• Prize Money: $8,150,470
• Defending champion: Dominic Thiem

Top Seeds at the Indian Wells Open 2021

• Daniil Medvedev
• Stefanos Tsitsipas
• Alexander Zverev
• Andrey Rublev
• Matteo Berrettini
• Casper Ruud
• Felix Auger-Aliassime
• Hubert Hurkacz

ATP1000 Indian Wells main draw pic.twitter.com/ipOGKZfWbD

— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) October 5, 2021

Men’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction

First Quarter

In the absence of Novak Djokovic, World No.2 Daniil Medvedev will headline the top half of the draw. He receives a first round bye alongwith all the seeds and will face either Australian James Duckworth or Mackenzie McDonald. He is drawn with 27th seed Filip Krajinovic who could face Marcos Giron in the third round.

Medvedev could go onto face big serving American Reilly Opelka or Grigor Dimitrov in the Round of 16. Both Opelka and Dimitrov are in decent touch and should clear the opening hurdle easily.

Miami Open champion Hubert Hurkacz will face either Alexei Popyrin or Miomir Kecmanovic in the second round. He is expected to face American youngster Sebastian Korda in the third round. Meanwhile, Denis Shapovalov will most probably face Vasek Pospisil in the second round and could lock horns with Aslan Karatsev in the third round. The winner is expected to face Hurkacz in the Round of 16.

1st Quarterfinal prediction: Daniil Medvedev vs Hubert Hurkacz

Second Quarter

4th seed Andrey Rublev will face any of the Spaniards Carlos Taberner or Jaume Munar in the second round. He could go onto face either of 28th seed Dusan Lajovic, Tommy Paul or Feliciano Lopez in the third round. San Diego Open finalist Cameron Norrie is expected face the winner of Soonwoo Kwon vs Roberto Bautista Agut in the third round. The winner of that match will take on Rublev for a place in the last 8.

8th seed Casper Ruud will open against wither a qualifier or Roberto Carballes Baena and could then go onto face Lloyd Harris in the next round. Diego Schwartzman will meet a qualifier or Laslo Djere in the second round and will face either Kei Nishikori or Dan Evans in the third round. The winner of the bracket will face Ruud in the fourth round.

2n Quarterfinal prediction: Roberto Bautista Agut vs Casper Ruud

Third Quarter

The third quarter of the draw is the tightest, packed with several in form players. Third seed Alexander Zverev will open his campaign against a qualifier or Jenson Brooksby. He is drawn opposite Spanish sensation Carlos Alcaraz in the mini-bracket who will face Andy Murray or Adrian Mannarino in the second round. Zverev will then have to battle past in form Gael Monfils, Kevin Anderson or Lorenzo Sonego for a place in the last 8.

5th seed Matteo Berrettini will most probably meet Denis Kudla in the second round and will face either Brandon Nakashima or Taylor Fritz in the third round. 20th seed John Isner, 10th seed Jannik Sinner Jack Sock and John Millman are all in the same bracket, with the winner facing Berrettini in the Round of 16.

3rd Quarterfinal prediction: Matteo Berrettini vs Alexander Zverev

Fourth Quarter

The last quarter of the draw features the second seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who has been handed a fairly easy draw. Tsitsipas is expected to face Pedro Martinez in his opener and could face 25th seed Italian Fabio Fognini in the third round. He will go onto face either Holger Rune, Cristian Garin, Pablo Andujar or Alex de Minaur in the Round of 16.

7th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime will face the winner of Lorenzo Musetti vs Albert Ramos-Vinolas in the second round and is expected to meet Nikoloz Basilashvili in the third round. 12th seed Pablo Carreno Busta and Karen Khachanov are drawn opposite Felix and wither one of them could face him in the Round of 16.

4th Quarterfinal prediction: Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Stefanos Tsitsipas

Semifinal

Daniil Medvedev and Casper Ruud will lock horns in the first semifinal. Both players have had an exceptional season. Ruud has 5 titles in his name this season while Medvedev has 4. The Russian will have a slight edge given his amazing record on hardcourts.

The second semifinal will be played between Alexander Zverev and Stefanos Tsitsipas. Both men are amongst the best on the ATP tour and have already won a masters title this season. The match is expected to go down the distance with Zverev just edging past Tsitsipas.

BNP Paribas Open Final prediction: Daniil Medvedev vs Alexander Zverev

Final

The 2021 Indian Wells Final will be played between top seed Daniil Medvedev and third seed Alexander Zverev. The Russian has been the best player on hardcourts this season and will look to win another title after his US Open triumph. Meanwhile, Zverev, who has already won two masters titles this season will want to complete a hattrick. It could be anyone’s match but Medvedev will walk in with a slight advantage.

Champion: Daniil Medvedev

Also read: Indian Wells 2021: Women’s Singles Draw Preview and Prediction for BNP Paribas Open