Carlos Alcaraz vs Daniil Medvedev Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Indian Wells

Prediction published on 19/03/2023, 07:28  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 19/03/2023 at 09:05 in Tennis Predictions

Top seeded Carlos Alcaraz bids to return to the top of the world rankings. He'll overtake the absent Novak Djokovic if he can beat fifth seeded Daniil Medvedev to win the Indian Wells title. Alcaraz was number one last year but lost that position after being injured. He made his return to the ATP Tour in South America last month and played two clay court events. He won the first of them in Buenos Aires but lost in the final of the other in Rio. In both title deciders he faced Cameron Norrie. This is his first hard court event of the year and the 19-year-old has reached the final without losing a set. His semi-final saw him defeat Jannik Sinner, though he did need a tie-break to win the first set. Other wins in this tournament have come against Thanasi Kokkinakis, 31st seed Tallon Griekspoor, Jack Draper and eighth seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime. This is his third time at Indian Wells and he's beaten his best performance of reaching the last four in 2022.

Daniil Medvedev is attempting to win his fourth successive tournament. He's already had wins in Rotterdam, Doha and Dubai, all on hard courts. He also topped the world rankings last year but began this tournament ranked seventh. He'll be fifth in the next list and a win here will see him go top of the Live ATP Race. The Russian has now won 19 matches in a row and a 20th will see him win the Indian Wells title for the first time. On his way to this final, Medvedev has lost two sets against Ilya Ivashka and 12th seeded Alexander Zverev (losing the first set). He defeated 23rd seeded Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in the quarters and then got past 14th seed Frances Tiafoe without losing a set. The two players have only had one previous match. That was on grass at Wimbledon two years ago with Medvedev winning the five-setter for the loss of only seven games. That won't influence this match too much but we feel it's Medvedev who can continue his winning streak.