Shintaro Mochizuki vs Aleksandar Vukic Prediction & Betting Tips - ATP Indian Wells

Prediction published on 06/03/2024, 07:33  by Steve Ashfield | Modified on 06/03/2024 at 08:34 in ATP Indian Wells Predictions

Shintaro Mochizuki bids to reach the second round at Indian Wells. The qualifier takes on unseeded Aleksandar Vukic in round one with the winner taking on top seed Novak Djokovic in the last 64. Mochizuki had to win two qualifying matches to reach the main draw and didn't drop a set in doing so. The Japanese player is ranked 149th in the latest list but up to 137th in the live rankings, just eight places below his career high. He won three matches to qualify for this year's Australian Open but then lost in round one to Tomas Machac. Current form is not good with his last three matches being lost. A win over Vukic will be his first in a main draw of an ATP Tour tournament since getting to the last four in Tokyo last October.

Aleksandar Vukic is ranked 69th in the world, 21 places below the career high he achieved last year. The Australian has struggled this year and didn't win a match until the clay court tournament held in Cordoba last month. Last week saw him lose in the first qualifying round of the tournament held in Acapulco being beaten in straight sets to then world number 146 Terence Altmane. He's only won one hard court match this year and that was against Rodrigo Pacheco Mendez who was ranked a lowly 692nd at the time. He then lost to Stefanos Tsitsipas only winning three games. Low stakes are a good idea here but we tip Mochizuki to get the victory and set up that match against Djokovic.