Thursday tennis acca tips: Alexander Zverev to double up on wins over Carlos Alcaraz

Alexander Zverev has been lined up with Carlos Alcaraz in the last eight of a major tournament for the second time this year and has a chance to double up on big wins over the Spanish superstar.

Zverev has the blueprint for dismantling Alcaraz's game and the world No 2 hasn't really managed to get going yet this term.

Tommy Paul is the last remaining American on the ATP side of the draw but a pair of home hopes have gained the last eight at the BNP Paribas Open.

Emma Navarro is on a breakout run and faces Maria Sakkari in the last eight while Coco Gauff will be out to avoid another WTA 1000 quarter-final upset loss this term when she takes on emerging Chinese player Yue Yuan.

Here we make our picks for the Indian Wells quarter-finals which take place on Thursday, March 14. 

 

ATP Indian Wells: Jiri Lehecka vs Jannik Sinner | Pick: Sinner

ATP Indian Wells: Tommy Paul vs Casper Ruud | Pick: Paul

ATP Indian Wells: Alexander Zverev vs Carlos Alcaraz | Pick: Zverev

ATP Indian Wells: Daniil Medvedev vs Holger Rune | Pick: Medvedev

WTA Indian Wells: Anastasia Potapova vs Marta Kostyuk | Pick: Kostyuk

WTA Indian Wells: Iga Swiatek vs Caroline Wozniacki | Pick: Swiatek

WTA Indian Wells: Yue Yuan vs Coco Gauff | Pick: Gauff

WTA Indian Wells: Maria Sakkari vs Emma Navarro | Pick: Navarro

 

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ATP Indian Wells: Jiri Lehecka vs Jannik Sinner

Jannik Sinner and Jiri Lehecka will face off in the quarter of the BNP Paribas Open for what will be their first head-to-head clash on the full ATP Tour.

Lehecka has beaten Sinner in a Challenger Tour meeting in Ostrava back in 2019 but the Italian has progressed some since that clash.

Lehecka has also come on well and looks set to push towards the top 20 but Sinner is a formidable opponent in 2024.

The Italian is yet to lose a singles match this year and probably won't go down here.

 

ATP Indian Wells: Tommy Paul vs Casper Ruud

Tommy Paul will need the hometown crowd to get right behind him to snap his losing streak against Casper Ruud.

Ruud has won the last four meetings between the two with Paul's only triumph coming when they first met in 2017.

Paul has been playing well and could be well-placed for a breakthrough run at Indian Wells.

Ruud has reached two finals this season but lost in both championship matches.

 

ATP Indian Wells: Alexander Zverev vs Carlos Alcaraz

Zverev not only beat Alcaraz in Melbourne but also won their last two meetings.

Alcaraz trails the head-to-head against Zverev which is not something he has experienced much.

Zverev seems to particularly zero in on the Spaniard's weaknesses on a hard court.

There has been a fitness factor to Alcaraz underperforming but he looks in good nick in the desert this fortnight.

 

ATP Indian Wells: Daniil Medvedev vs Holger Rune

Daniil Medvedev and Holger Rune have traded wins in their last two outings.

Those meetings were on clay and perhaps that is an indicator that Medvedev might have the overall edge.

Rune is handy enough on the red stuff but Medvedev isn't a great fan.

Meanwhile, Medvedev is a brilliant hard court player with faster surfaces suiting him down to the ground.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Anastasia Potapova vs Marta Kostyuk

Marta Kostyuk had a promising 2023 that didn't quite deliver but she has started 2024 with some great performances.

Kostyuk has been unable to dodge Russian opposition but equally seems to lift herself when facing players from that state.

When it comes to Anastasia Potapova though Kostyuk is chasing her first win.

Potapova has won both of the previous meetings between the players but momentum has a lot of say on Tour.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Iga Swiatek vs Caroline Wozniacki

Current No 1 Iga Swiatek faces a former rankings queen in Caroline Wozniacki in the last eight.

Wozniacki may be Danish but she has made herself a home in the United States and built her family there so she might feel like a home player.

The Dane has produced her best form since her comeback at Indian Wells but has already had to spend seven hours on court here.

Swiatek enjoyed a first-round bye and has played 16 minutes shy of four hours of tennis this week.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Yue Yuan vs Coco Gauff

Yue Yuan has a recent title win in the bank and has made a great start to the year as Chinese tennis continues to blossom.

However, Yuan's run at Indian Wells will be put to the test by a player with a point to prove.

Gauff wants to be in the mix for all the top titles and is trying to close the gap between herself and the top two Aryna Sabalenka and Iga Swiatek.

Gauff should keep the US flag flying if her two compatriots fail.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Maria Sakkari vs Emma Navarro

Emma Navarro continues to break new ground in a great 2024 season and is trending towards the top ten.

Navarro put in the hard yards in 2023 with a great many entries into the WTA's 125 and 250 level events contributing to an impressive final match tally.

Sakkari has looked good this week but has been forced into two three-setters.

While Navarro has played a trio of three-setters to get to this point she has faced three players in good form and ultimately bested them all.