Indian Wells ATP 1000 – 7th day

Seyboth Wild T. Z – Maroszan F.

A match certainly not anticipated at the start of the tournament saw two young players defeating the seeds number 12 and 21 respectively. Seyboth appears to be perfectly at home on this surface, not giving Kachanov a single break point in the previous round and breaking serve whenever possible. His trademark tactics include using his serve to open up the field, followed by a powerful forehand. However, caution is advised against Maroszan's early returns, which could pose a challenge for the Brazilian. Maroszan, for his part, defeated Jarry, who is not exactly stellar on this surface, showcasing both solidity and determination. Being young players, much will depend on their approach to the match. It could turn out to be a closely contested game, but Seyboth seems to have a slight edge.

Tiafoe F. – Tsitsipas S.

A fundamental premise of the match is the desire for redemption felt by both players, each coming from a critical moment in their careers. Tiafoe, ranked 18th in the world and playing on home soil, boasts an excellent service and a variety of shots from the baseline. He has the ability to harness the wind in his favor, and thrives alongside an energetic crowd. On the other hand, Tsitsipas struggles to find his form, and his notably weak backhand is a significant disadvantage. Tiafoe excels at exploiting such weaknesses. Given these factors, I'm inclined to go against the odds for this match.

Rublev A. – Lehecka J.

Rublev, currently ranked 5th in the world, is a highly impulsive player — a trait that led to his disqualification in the last tournament for offending a line judge. However, when in good form, as he is at the moment, he becomes nearly unbeatable, boasting an excellent serve and a "killing forehand" that often earns him winners. On the other hand, Lehecka, who faced some difficulties in the first round, might succumb to his opponent, especially since he didn't seem to be in the best physical condition.

Fritz T. – Baez S.

Fritz, a local favorite, has already shown how well he adapts to these courts. His serve and forehand are his trademarks, accompanied by a power in his shots that his opponent will likely struggle to counter. Baez, while a skilled player, lacks the necessary power in his shots on this surface, and the excessive errors we've seen, including against Fognini, leave him with little chance. My prediction is strongly in favor of the American, as evidenced by last year's match on these same courts, which he won convincingly in straight sets.

Mannarino A. – Dimitrov G.

Mannarino returned to winning ways after more than a month by defeating the young Machac, who struggled to counter the Frenchman's variety of shots. Being left-handed, Mannarino exploited Machac's less-than-perfect backhand. The situation is different with Dimitrov, who is not only stronger but also does not struggle as much with his backhand. However, Mannarino's serve deserves special attention, as it can be particularly challenging for players with a one-handed backhand. While the odds favor the Bulgarian, the Frenchman, who often thrives in such matches, should not be underestimated.

Musetti L. – Rune H.

Musetti has finally returned to winning ways against a Shapovalov who once again exposed his limitations, with the Italian skillfully taking advantage of them. It's worth noting, however, that in the set where the Canadian made fewer mistakes, he secured a clear 6-2 victory. Rune, much like Shapovalov, is a total attack player who sometimes tends to overdo it. Ultimately, I believe the Dane will clinch the match. Attention should also be paid to the backhand diagonals, as well as the multiple serve and volley plays the Dane is likely to make, considering Musetti's positioning far behind the baseline. The key might just be this strategy, possibly leading to a Rune victory, including a set given away due to Musetti's lack of familiarity with the court conditions.

Norrie C. – Monfils G.

We have two players whose styles are at complete opposites. Norrie is lacking confidence, trying to make his opponents play poorly to force errors, without being decisive. On the other side, Monfils seems to have returned to his prime form, having impressively defeated Hurkacz, who is certainly no easy opponent. In my opinion, there's little to debate here; Monfils is the clear favorite.

Paul T. – Humbert H.

Paul comes off an impressive straight-set victory in the derby against Michelsen, showcasing his ability to exploit all the nuances this court offers. Like many Americans, his strategy involves using his serve to open up the court, followed by a decisive forehand. On the other side, Humbert, the recent Dubai champion, seemed quite drained and undoubtedly tired from the numerous matches he has played recently. Yesterday, he gave his opponent many opportunities, which were not capitalized on due to the opponent not being as skilled or experienced as Paul. The deciding factor in this match will likely be Humbert's fatigue, which could lead to his downfall, possibly in the third set.