Wednesday tennis acca tips: Katie Boulter to keep her hot streak rolling into Sunshine Double

Katie Boulter carries a winning streak into the Sunshine Double thanks to her San Diego Open.

With the top 32 seeds not involved in the opening round a lot of attention falls on the wildcards.

Here we look at a handful of Indian Wells Open first-round matches and make our picks.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Angelique Kerber vs Petra Martic | Pick: Martic

WTA Indian Wells: Anna Blinkova vs Karolina Pliskova | Pick: Pliskova

WTA Indian Wells: Camila Giorgi vs Katie Boulter | Pick: Boulter

WTA Indian Wells: Caroline Wozniacki vs Lin Zhu | Pick: Zhu

WTA Indian Wells: Katerina Siniakova vs Greet Minnen | Pick: Siniakova

WTA Indian Wells: Magdalena Frech vs Lucia Bronzetti | Pick: Bronzetti

WTA Indian Wells: Mirra Andreeva vs Katie Volynets | Pick: Andreeva

WTA Indian Wells: Paula Badosa vs Ashlyn Krueger | Pick: Badosa

 

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WTA Indian Wells: Angelique Kerber vs Petra Martic

In a battle of veterans, Angelique Kerber and Petra Martic meet for the fourth time in their careers.

They first met all the way back in 2008 but haven't clashed since 2019.

Kerber has notched just one match win this season and trails Martic 2-1 in the head-to-head.

Martic hasn't started her season brilliantly but remains in the top 100 and will be tough to get past for Kerber.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Anna Blinkova vs Karolina Pliskova

Karolina Pliskova has beaten Anna Blinkova twice in as many meetings between these players.

Blinkova has been in giant-killing form of late but Pliskova might just have something of a hold over her.

Pliskova overwhelmed Blinkova with displays of power in those two meetings.

While the Czech has struggled with injury she should enjoy the Indian Wells conditions. 

 

WTA Indian Wells: Camila Giorgi vs Katie Boulter

Katie Boulter moved up to 11 wins for the season with her stellar run in San Diego and that is ten more wins than Giorgi has this term.

The Italian has dropped out of the top 100 while Boulter has risen to a new career high and will enjoy a seeding for the Miami Open in a couple of weeks.

This will be the first meeting between these players in a singles match at any level.

The winner of this match will progress to a meeting with No 26 seed Linda Noskova.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Caroline Wozniacki vs Lin Zhu

No 25 seed Donna Vekic awaits the winner of the clash between wildcard Caroline Wozniacki and Lin Zhu.

They have met once before but that clash was nine years ago with Wozniacki winning in straight sets.

Lin Zhu is on a three-match losing streak in WTA Tour main draws while Wozniacki has lost her last two outings.

However, with eight wins to her name this term Zhu has proven to be a player in better form than Wozniacki who has struggled for entries.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Katerina Siniakova vs Greetje Minnen

Katerina Siniakova and Greetje Minnen go head-to-head for the first time in their careers.

A date with Elina Svitolina in the second round awaits the winner of this opening encounter.

Siniakova has been better on hard courts than her opponent, especially in the last few weeks.

Minnen has just one main draw match win this season and doesn't look capable of the upset here.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Magdalena Frech vs Lucia Bronzetti

Just ten rankings places split Magdalena Frech and Lucia Bronzetti but they have yet to meet in singles action.

That will change in Indian Wells and the winner will progress to a second-round match against No 32 seed Anhelina Kalinina.

Both players lost their first match on US soil this season after reasonably good displays in Dubai.

Frech and Bronzetti had to qualify for the first WTA 1000 event of the season but has gone straight into the main draw this time.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Mirra Andreeva vs Katie Volynets

Mirra Andreeva lost her only match since an Australian Open run that garnered her more attention.

Katie Volynets will have the home support but the spotlight will be on Andreeva here.

Andreeva has a lot of potential for success but there are big questions about the impact of being exposed to the tour so young.

Andreeva should have the game to get beyond Volynets with a clash against Ons Jabeur the reward for the victor.

 

WTA Indian Wells: Paula Badosa Gibert vs Ashlyn Krueger

 Paula Badosa faces a test of her fitness to return to the WTA Tour.

She has made numerous returns from this injury only to take more time off and plays a very physical opponent.

Krueger is a fairly recent title-winner on the tour and no easy first-round match for Badosa.

However, if the Spaniard finds her level she should also be able to find a way to win the match and go on to face one of the tournament favourites, Elena Rybakina, in the second round.