The fight for four more quarterfinal spots at the ATP BNP Paribas Open continues in Indian Wells, California. Two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz is the headline act on Day 8 as he attempts to defeat Grigor Dimitrov for the first time in two years. Who will reach the last eight?
ATP Indian Wells Day 8 Predictions
Francisco Cerundolo vs Alex de Minaur
Head-to-head: De Minaur 1-0 Cerundolo
De Minaur is still chasing that elusive quarterfinal spot in Indian Wells. He’s stumbled at this stage three times in the past. That includes last season when he lost to Alexander Zverev from a set up. If he is to address that record then Wednesday is an opportune moment. De Minaur breezed into the round of 16 without losing a set and has not dropped more than four games in a match, beating David Goffin 6-2 6-2 and outclassing Hubert Hurkacz 6-4 6-0. Expect his defensive prowess to shine against the hard-hitting Cerundolo.
Prediction: De Minaur in 2
Ben Shelton vs Brandon Nakashima
Head-to-head: Shelton 3-0 Nakashima
At least one American is guaranteed a quarterfinal spot in Indian Wells. And it is likely to Ben Shelton. The 22-year-old lefty has owned this matchup against former NextGen champion Brandon Nakashima. It’s not a given Shelton will register his fourth win in the series after what transpired in the first week with plenty of upsets. However, he is a proactive player. He possesses an explosive serve, better variety, and has a point-ending shot in his locker.
Prediction: Shelton in 2
Taylor Fritz vs Jack Draper
Head-to-head: Fritz 2-2 Draper
There were concerns that Fritz was likely to pull out from Indian Wells. He hadn’t touched a racket before his opening match for two weeks. The abdominal injury he sustained at the Australian Open severely affected his performances in Dallas and Delray where he was beaten before the semifinals stage. However, the decision to withdraw from Acapulco gave him sufficient recuperation time. And because he has a great track record in this tournament (former champion), he was bound to make the second week as long as he played pain-free (although he has not fully recovered).
His next opponent, Jack Draper, knows all about nursing regular injuries. Draper has learned a lot in managing his body in the last six months and he’s reaping the reward of having a balanced schedule. A couple of solid wins over the rising NextGen star Joao Fonseca and the resurgent Jenson Brooksby make him a formidable challenger for the World No. 4. Should the occasional struggles with movement persistent, Fritz might play second fiddle to the Briton in this match.
Prediction: Draper in 3
Carlos Alcaraz vs Grigor Dimitrov
Head-to-head: Alcaraz 3-2 Dimitrov
Alcaraz was expected to encounter some stiff resistance in the third round against the in-form Denis Shapovalov. But it turned out to be a pretty straightforward win for the two-time defending champion. He raced to a 5-0 lead in the first set in next to no time before sealing a 6-2 6-4 victory in 84 minutes. Dimitrov, for his part, won a classic against Gael Monfils 7-6 in the third. The Bulgarian has won the last two head-to-head meetings against Alcaraz including last spring in Miami. But the Spaniard has turned Indian Wells into his fortress with a two-year undefeated streak and should progress into his fourth straight quarterfinal.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images
