Sinner vs. Kokkinakis, Shelton vs. Mensik

Australian Open champ Jannik Sinner starts his Indian Wells quote versus Thanasi Kokkinakis on Friday, while American upstart Ben Shelton handles the rising Jakub Mensik in a second-round fight of increasing stars.

(3) Jannik Sinner vs. Thanasi Kokkinakis

Jannik Sinner may not be the top-ranked tennis gamer worldwide (he is No. 3 today), however it would be tough to make a persuading argument that he’s not the very best tennis gamer worldwide. The 22-year-old Italian is unbeaten in 2024, highlighted by his impressive go to his very first significant title in Melbourne in January. He secured 3 top-five gamers consisting of Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev. Sinner likewise won the title in Rotterdam last month to go 12-0 on the season up until now.

Sinner’s very first challenger in at the BNP Paribas Open on Friday is Thanasi Kokkinakis. The Aussie is no complete stranger to Sinner. The 2 guys have actually satisfied on 3 other events; Sinner won them all. Unfortunately for Kokkinakis, he experiences a challenger who is playing the very best tennis of his profession (and who has actually had lots of rest).

Expect Sinner to cover this one up in straight sets.

Cheryl choice: Sinner in 2

Ricky choice: Sinner in 2

(16) Ben Shelton vs. (WC) Jakub Mensik

Jakub Mensik, the Czech teenager who stormed onto the worldwide tennis scene last month, is seeking to stake a genuine claim in guys’s tennis. The 18-year-old came out of no place to make an area in the last of Doha (lost to Karen Khachanov) in February. He got a regrettable elbow injury that required him to retire in the 2nd round in Dubai. There was strapping on his elbow in his very first round-match versus Seongchan Hong on Thursday.

Mensik will handle big-serving American Ben Shelton in the 2nd round. The 21-year-old went far for himself at the U.S. Open in 2015, where he reached the semifinals (lost to Novak Djokovic). Shelton has actually typically played well in 2024, with semifinals in Auckland and Dallas, however he lost at the Australian Open–where he dropped a five-set heartbreaker in the 3rd round to Adrian Mannarino.

If both guys were healthy, this would likely have actually been the match of the 2nd round. It might still be, however with Mensik apparently still nursing the bottom elbow and Shelton and his huge serve dipping into home, the 16th seed ought to pull this one out.

Cheryl choice: Shelton in 3

Ricky choice: Shelton in 2