Aussie Open champion Jannik Sinner will look to continue his perfect record in 2024 against Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff in Indian Wells. Alex de Minaur will also be in Sunday action against Alexander Bublik.
(3) Jannik Sinner vs. (25) Jan-Lennard Struff
The Indian Wells seeds have held up well so far especially on the bottom half of the draw. Sunday, we’ll get the first look of seed vs. seed this week. The matchup between Jannik Sinner and Jan-Lennard Struff may not end up being very competitive, however. First, Sinner has positioned himself as the best player on tour at the moment. He is a perfect 13-0 on the season, with a pair of titles at the Australian Open and Rotterdam to show for his efforts.
Simply put, Sinner is THE player to beat right now. Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff is ranked 25 in the world, but that success has little to do with his form so far in 2024. The 33 year-old has only managed to win a single match at a time this entire season and the fact that his second match played at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden is against Sinner doesn’t bode well for his chances to break that pattern.
Look for another straight-set victory for Sinner with the Italian breezing into the next round.
Cheryl pick – Sinner in 2
WWW: Sinner vs. Struff?
(10) Alex de Minaur vs. (20) Alexander Bublik
Unlike the Sinner match, this one has the ingredients for a barn burner. First, both Alex de Minaur and Alexander Bublik are in great form. Bublik, the world No. 20 from Kazakhstan, won the title in Montpellier earlier this year and comes into this week off a run to the final in Dubai, where he lost in straight sets to Ugo Humbert. De Minaur did one better in Acapulco and took the title with a win over Casper Ruud.
De Minaur has come out ahead in his two previous matches against Bublik, but one was a retirement, so it’s not possible to determine much about matchup from a single completed match. The surface in Indian Wells has traditionally favored fit players, and de Minaur has been to the 4th round twice in the past few years, so he’s no stranger to success in the California desert.
This one should be a real treat. Expect plenty of exciting rallies and some dramatics from the often-entertaining Bublik. De Minaur is the more consistent of the two men and that gives him an edge, but he won’t get through this without a fight.
Cheryl pick – De Minaur in 3
WWW: De Minaur vs. Bublik?
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