Tennis acca tips: Novak Djokovic to make winning return to Indian Wells

A record-hunting Novak Djokovic will kick off his bid for a seventh Indian Wells title on Saturday.

Britain's Cameron Norrie and Emma Raducanu also have tough matches on a jam-packed Saturday schedule at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

The matches will come thick and fast across the day.

Here we make picks for a handful of matches scheduled to be played on Saturday 9 March.

 

Indian Wells ATP: Cameron Norrie vs Lorenzo Sonego | Pick: Norrie

Indian Wells ATP: Novak Djokovic vs Aleksandar Vukic | Pick: Djokovic

Indian Wells ATP: Daniil Medvedev vs Roberto Carballes Baena | Pick: Medvedev

Indian Wells ATP: Gael Monfils vs Hubert Hurkacz | Pick: Hurkacz

Indian Wells WTA: Dayana Yastremska vs Emma Raducanu | Pick: Yastremska

Indian Wells WTA: Clara Burel vs Coco Gauff | Pick: Gauff

Indian Wells WTA: Jessica Pegula vs Anna Blinkova | Pick: Pegula

Indian Wells WTA: Peyton Stearns vs Aryna Sabalenka | Pick: Sabalenka

 

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Indian Wells ATP: Cameron Norrie vs Lorenzo Sonego

Cameron Norrie and Lorenzo Sonego will face off against each other in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in what will be the second meeting between the players.

Sonego came out on top when they met in Monte Carlo in 2019 but we do need to consider the fact that it was contested on clay.

Norrie, a former Indian Wells champion, is looking to rehabilitate his ranking after another loss of points last week.

Sonego looked good in downing world No 55 Miomir Kecmanovic in the first round. 

 

Indian Wells ATP: Novak Djokovic vs Aleksandar Vukic

World No 69 Aleksandar Vukic will relish a first-ever meeting with Novak Djokovic but few will give him much hope of running the Serbian close.

Vukic won a pair of tiebreaks to oust Shintaro Mochizuki of Japan in the first round of the Indian Wells Masters.

Djokovic returns to action for the first time since his Australian Open semi-final loss to Jannik Sinner.

Djokovic is out to secure his 100th ATP Tour title in California.

 

Indian Wells ATP: Daniil Medvedev vs Roberto Carballes Baena

Daniil Medvedev has beaten Roberto Carballes Baena in both of their previous meetings.

Medvedev comes into the match cold but has enjoyed some good practice sessions.

Carballes Baena eased past Flavio Cobolli in the first round with minimum fuss.

On a hard court, few can match Medvedev and this could be a one-sided clash.

 

Indian Wells ATP: Gael Monfils vs Hubert Hurkacz

Gael Monfils vs Hubert Hurkacz promises to bring the entertainment to the late show at Indian Wells.

The head-to-head between these men is locked at 1-1 but they haven't clashed since Hurkacz beat Monfils in Shanghai in 2019.

Hurkacz will be out to avoid back-to-back defeats to French opponents after going down to eventual champion Ugo Humbert in the last eight in Dubai.

Monfils blasted past Max Purcell in the opening round of the tournament to book a date with his seeded opponent.

 

Indian Wells WTA: Dayana Yastremska vs Emma Raducanu

Emma Raducanu made the most of her wildcard into the Indian Wells draw with a first round but this might be the end of the road for the young Brit.

Yastremska is enjoying a far better season and produced a consistently high level of tennis.

Yastremska retired hurt on the brink of defeat in the first meeting between these players.

Raducanu's form has improved but she might struggle to get beyond Yastremska.

 

Indian Wells WTA: Clara Burel vs Coco Gauff

This will be a first-time clash with Clara Burel yet to come up against Coco Gauff on the WTA Tour.

Gauff is looking to bounce back from a shock loss in the Dubai quarters while Burel came through the opening round.

Burel needed three sets to get beyond Xiyu Wang in the first round and will need to lift her game several notches to compete.

Gauff looks good for a win here and a solid run at Indian Wells.

 

Indian Wells WTA: Jessica Pegula vs Anna Blinkova

Another home hope looking to make a statement at Indian Wells is Jessica Pegula.

Pegula has beaten Blinkova all three times they have met but the Russian has picked up some big wins recently.

Blinkova beat Karolina Pliskova to reach the round of 64 at Indian Wells.

However, her semi-final loss to Pegula in San Diego last week means that the American has the edge.

 

Indian Wells WTA: Peyton Stearns vs Aryna Sabalenka

Peyton Stearns might be praying that she meets Aryna Sabalenka on an off-day for the Australian Open champion.

Sabalenka was stunned in her first outing in Dubai and will be out to avoid a repeat at Indian Wells.

The loss to Vekic was just her second for the year though and Sabalenka might be the best in the world on a hard court right now.

Stearns eased past Elisabetta Cocciaretto in straight sets but nothing could prepare her for a first meeting with Sabalenka.