Indian Wells Open First Round: Shapovalov Heads Leading Fancies

The first round of Indian Wells play is on March 4 and 5. The 32 seeds in each of the men’s and women’s draws get a bye to the second round, but there is still plenty of tennis betting interest in the first phase of the competition.

Adrian Mannarino vs Matteo Berrettini

Adrian Mannarino has won the two previous meetings between these players in straight sets. One of those was in 2018, though, so that needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

After a strong end to 2025, including a win over Cam Norrie, Matteo Berrettini has gone 3-3 at the start of this year.

This should be a hard-fought match between two tour veterans. We fancy this to go the distance, which will benefit Alexander Zverev, who will face the winner of this match.

Pick: Both players to win a set (13/10)

Denis Shapovalov vs Stefanos Tsitsipas

Stefanos Tsitsipas – a former world number three – is two spots ahead of Denis Shapovalov – a former world number 10 – in the current ATP rankings. The winner of their first-round duel will face Tomás Martín Etcheverry in the second round, with Jannik Sinner likely waiting in the third round.

Tsitsipas lost to Andrey Rublev and Ugo Humbert in Doha and Dubai, respectively. Shapovalov has been in better form, but like Tsitsipas, his record in the Sunshine Swing is hardly impressive.

Crucially, Shapovalov has won all four meetings with Tsitsipas on hard courts. We fancy him to continue that run.

Pick: Denis Shapovalov to win 2-1 (15/4)

Sloane Stephens vs Camila Osorio

Sloane Stephens or Camila Osorio will face Iva Jovic in the second round. Currently outside the top 1000, Stephens hasn’t won a main draw match since the first round at Wimbledon in 2024.

Osorio had a disappointing end to 2025 and struggled in Australia and New Zealand. She got her season on track with a win in Manila and put in some strong performances before losing to Jelena Ostapenko in Doha.

Providing Osorio is fully fit after withdrawing from a match last week, she should win this comfortably.

Pick: Camila Osorio to win 2-0 (10/11)

Paula Badosa vs Yulia Putintseva

Despite climbing to 20th in the world little more than 12 months ago. Yulia Putintseva has fallen to 94th in the rankings. There were signs of improvement in Adelaide and Melbourne, but the Kazakh 31-year-old fell to Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva in the first round in Merida.

Paula Badosa’s recent form is even more concerning. She’s lost five of her last seven matches and has been inconsistent with her first serve, which is a problem for a player so dependent on power.

While Badosa has won the last two meetings, Putintseva has shown more promise of late and she should be considered in outright predictions for the Indian Wells Open.

Pick: Yulia Putinstseva to win (11/8)

*Odds subject to change – prices accurate at the time of writing*