Monday’s schedule in tennis paradise is quite stellar. In ATP third round singles action, Spaniards Roberto Bautista Agut and Carlos Alcaraz will clash for the first time. After surviving a third-set tiebreak against Jack Sock on Saturday night, Stefanos Tsitipas faces another American challenge in Jenson Brooksby. And World No.1 Daniil Medvedev takes on Gael Monfils. Not yet mentioned is a rematch of last year’s singles final, as well as newly-anointed 21-time Major singles champion Rafael Nadal against Britain’s Dan Evans.
The WTA matchups on Monday are also pretty impressive. They include defending champion Paula Badosa, last year’s finalist Victoria Azarenka, and US Open finalist Leylah Fernandez. And two other top seeds, Anett Kontaveit and Maria Sakkari, collide with Czechs Marketa Vondrousova and Petra Kvitova, respectively.
Throughout the fortnight, the WTA singles draw will be one day ahead of the ATP. The women’s third round concludes on Monday, while the men’s third round begins.
Each day, this preview will analyze the two most intriguing matchups, while highlighting other notable matches on the schedule. Monday’s play gets underway at 11:00am local time.
Roberto Bautista Agut (15) vs. Carlos Alcaraz (19) – 11:00am on Stadium 3
The burgeoning star power of 18-year-old Alcaraz has been on full display in Indian Wells. After his second round victory Saturday on this same court, Carlos was mobbed by fans on his way back to the locker room. Bautista Agut is 15 years his senior, and barely survived his own second match against American qualifier J.J. Wolf. Roberto saved two match points before prevailing in an over three-hour affair. That’s not good preparation for taking on one of the sport’s most fit athletes. But Bautista Agut is a strong 15-4 to start the year, and was the champion last month in Doha. Alcaraz has also been impressive, with a 9-1 record and a title Rio. His only loss was the tremendous five-setter he played against Matteo Berrettini in Melbourne. I like the 18-year-old’s chances of overcoming his fellow countryman.
Stefanos Tsitsipas (5) vs. Jenson Brooksby – Not Before 6:00pm on Stadium 1
Tsitsipas is a bit lucky to still be in this tournament. On Saturday night, he was down 3-5 in the third-set tiebreak to Jack Sock, before the American blinked, giving away the last four points and the victory. Brooksby is a 21-year-old American on a steep rise. He started 2021 ranked 314th in the world, and has quickly proven himself to be a dangerous, dogged competitor. Jenson reached four Challenger finals within the first four months of last year, then advanced to the fourth round of the US Open, where he even took a set off Novak Djokovic. He missed this year’s Australian Open after testing positive for COVID-19, but rebounded nicely by becoming the runner-up last month in Dallas. On Saturday, he demolished Karen Khachanov by a score of 6-0 6-3. Brooksby has the talent and determination to pull off the upset on Monday, especially considering Tsitsipas has not been at his best.
Other Notable Matches on Monday:
Daniil Medvedev (1) vs. Gael Monfils (26) – In order to remain No.1 in the world, Medvedev needs to reach the quarterfinals, something he’s never done in four previous appearances. He’s is 1-1 against Monfils, with those encounters occurring in back-to-back weeks during February of 2019.
Maria Sakkari (6) vs. Petra Kvitova (27) – Their career head-to-head is even at 3-3, and 2-2 on hard courts. Most recently, at last year’s US Open, Sakkari won in straight sets. Kvitova has been battling a wrist injury.
Rafael Nadal (4) vs. Dan Evans (27) – Nadal made another epic comeback on Saturday, after going down two breaks in the final set to Sebastian Korda. But he also appeared hobbled by his chronically-injured left foot. In 2019, Rafa twice defeated Evans on hard courts.
Anett Kontaveit (4) vs. Marketa Vondrousova (30) – No one has won more matches over the last six months than Kontaveit, who has claimed 43 of her last 50 matches. Tokyo silver medalist Vondrousova came through qualifying last month to reach the semis in Dubai, before withdrawing due to an abductor injury. They split two meetings last season.
Victoria Azarenka (13) vs. Elena Rybakina (17) – Azarenka has suffered multiple injuries over the past year, most recently pulling out of Doha due to her back. And Rybakina herself has withdrawn from two tournaments this year due to injury. Vika and Elena have never played before.
Denis Shapovalov (13) vs. Reilly Opelka (17) – This is a rematch from January’s Australian Open, where Shapovalov won in four. Opelka reached two ATP finals in the United States last month.
Paula Badosa (5) vs. Sara Sorribes Tormo (32) – These Spaniards were frequent doubles partners last season. In singles, they have never played on a hard court at tour level.
Leylah Fernandez (18) vs. Shelby Rogers – Fernandez saved four match points against Amanda Anisimova on Saturday night, while Rogers earned her first victory over Jelena Ostapenko after an extended second-set tiebreak. Leylah and Shelby played an epic match last October at this event, with Rogers prevailing in a third-set tiebreak.
Casper Ruud (8) vs. Nick Kyrgios (WC) – The only time these two played was quite the spectacle. Three years ago in Rome, Kyrgios was defaulted in the third set after cursing at a line judge, slamming his racket, kicking a water bottle, and throwing a chair. Ruud would later say Kyrgios “acted like an idiot.”
Cameron Norrie (12) vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili (18) – In last year’s championship match, Norrie prevailed in three sets. They also played last March in Rotterdam, where Cam dropped only three games.
Monday’s full Order of Play is here.
