Andy Murray vs Adrian Mannarino Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Indian Wells

Prediction published on 07/10/2021, 08:12  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 07/10/2021 at 09:33 in Tennis Predictions

Andy Murray has been showing improved form of late and has been given a wild card into the Indian Wells tournament. He takes on Adrian Mannarino in the first round and the winner faces 30th seed Carlos Alcarez. Third seed Alexander Zverev is the likely third round opponent so a long run in this tournament doesn't look on the cards for whoever wins this match. Murray is ranked 121st in the world, with his French opponent seventy places higher than him. Murray reached the last eight in Metz last month and that included a win over another French player, Ugo Humbert, ranked 26th at the time. That's the highest ranked player Murray has beaten since he returned to the circuit. His last two losses have been against top 16 players. One senses Murray is more than capable of beating Mannarino to advance to the second round.

Mannarino has dropped seven places in the rankings this year. His best tournament in 2021 has been the grass court event held in Mallorca. The Frenchman reached the semi-finals, losing to Sam Querrey. He had some luck that week as he was losing 5-2 in the first set to Dominic Thiem when the injury prone Austrian retired. It was Mannarino's turn to end a match early when he was two sets all in the first round at Wimbledon but then retired before the final set. His form isn't great with just one win in his last five matches. Murray has won their two previous matches but both were in 2015. One was in this tournament, the other at the US Open with Murray coming from 2-0 down to win. Mannarino is unlikely to have forgotten that one. Go for Murray to get the win here.