Denis Shapovalov can ensure we see a new champion at the Indian Wells Masters Monday when he faces the #2 seed on the men's draw Carlos Alcaraz in the round of 32.
A straight sets 6-3 6-2 victory over Adam Walton sent the Canadian into the third round of this tournament, while Alcaraz claimed a 6-4 6-2 triumph versus Quentin Halys.
Match preview
© Imago
The quest for a third successive Indian Wells singles crown began well for Carlos Alcaraz, with the Spaniard claiming a convincing opening victory on Saturday.
A quarter-finalist at the Australian Open earlier this year, Alcaraz won 95% of his first serves this past weekend while converting three of his five break-point opportunities.
This year, he has won 75% of his first-serve points while hitting 77 aces, and he has managed to win 85% of his service games on the hard court in the current calendar year.
So far in 2025, he has made it beyond the round of 32 in each of his singles events, ousting Marin Cilic in straight sets at that stage of his previous tournament in Doha last month, making it to the quarter-finals of that event.
The 21-year-old has never lost a third-round singles match at this event, as he ousted another Canadian at this stage a year ago in Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-2 6-3.
His powerful forehand has made him a solid returner early into 2025, winning 41% of such points on the hard court so far this year.
Since his early exit in the round of 64 of the Australian Open in January, Denis Shapovalov has put together some strong showings at singles tournaments.
Over the weekend, he won five of his six break point opportunities, boasting a first-serve percentage of 61% to collect the victory.
The 2021 Wimbledon semi-finalist captured the Dallas Open last month versus Casper Ruud and made the semi-finals of the Acapulco Open before losing to Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
With a victory on Monday, the Canadian will match his best-ever finish at this tournament, making the last 16 of this event previously in 2019.
He has won 84% of his service games on the hard court so far this year and 66% of his service points on that surface in 2025.
Shapovalov will be encouraged by his ability to convert most of his break points over the weekend, considering that leading into this tournament, he had only won 20% of his return games on the hard court for the year.
Tournament so far
Carlos Alcaraz:
First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Quentin Halys 6-4 6-2
Denis Shapovalov:
First round: Bye
Second round: vs. Adam Walton 6-3 6-2
Head To Head
French Open (2023)- Third Round: Alcaraz wins 6-1 6-4 6-2
When these two met on the clay surface at Roland Garros in June 2023, Shapovalov was his own worst enemy, hitting 10 double faults, while Alcaraz won 73% of his first serve points to win the match in straight sets.
We say: Alcaraz to win in two sets
The Spaniard's overall game is far cleaner than Shapovalov's, who can turn it on at times but tends to make his share of unforced errors as well, which is why we expect Alcaraz to move on.
Joel Lefevre
