Many Americans are talking about a packed schedule Sunday in Indian Wells, where Ben Shelton and Learner Tien compete in the third round. Frances Tiafoe gets another shot at Acapulco champion Flavio Cobolli.
(8) Ben Shelton vs. (25) Student Tien
Shelton is already in his second BNP Paribas Open. The world number 8 was clearly uncomfortable throughout his first-round match against compatriot Reilly Opelka, but he managed to hold on throughout – so one break in the third set was enough to win 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3. Shelton is now 11-2 this season with a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open and a title in Dallas.
Next up for the 23-year-old on Sunday is another all-American match against Tien, who won their last match 6-4, 7-6 (2) last summer on the grass courts of Mallorca. Tien is on the full list these days, reaching 27th place in the rankings at just 20 years old. The left-hander reached the quarters in Melbourne and the semis in Delray Beach before beating Adam Walton in a draw on Friday. Even if Shelton is 100 percent, Tien has a good chance to win this one — and the underdog’s chances obviously improve even more if his opponents are vulnerable.
Select: Merge to 3
(15) Flavio Cobolli vs. (21) Frances Tiafoe
It will be a repeat of the Acapulco final from last week when Cobolli and Tiafoe meet again on Sunday. Cobolli got the better of that matchup, taking the title with a 7-6(4), 6-4 victory. However, Tiafoe leads the head-to-head series 2-1; He won 6-4, 6-2 at the 2024 Delray Beach tournament and 6-1, 6-4 the following year in Washington, DC.
Although Cobolli has bounced back admirably from his slump in February, he was extremely unsatisfied. The 15th-ranked Italian didn’t beat anyone in the 80s other than Tiafoe last week and is coming off a tough three-setter against Miomir Kecmanovic on Friday. On the other hand, Tiafoe was outstanding in the destruction of Jenson Brooksby 6-4, 6-2. With home court advantage, the 22nd-ranked American has a good chance of revenge on Sunday.
Pick: Tiafoe at 3
