ATP Indian Wells: Grigor Dimitrov eases into third round https://t.co/ZxBDAGI2Xf pic.twitter.com/QcjlCWcdVn

— VAVEL USA Tennis (@VAVELUSATennis) March 13, 2017

After going out of town for a day, my predictions are back.

Predicted Winners in BOLD

STADIUM 1 (11 a.m. start)

[5] Rafael Nadal (ESP) vs. [26] Fernando Verdasco (ESP) H2H – Verdasco has the tools to win on a hardcourt versus Rafa.  I don’t expect that to happen though.

[9] Roger Federer (SUI) vs. [24] Steve Johnson (USA) H2H – Federer should win and set up an Australian Open rematch.  

[2] Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. [31] Juan Martin del Potro (ARG) H2H – They played a close match in Acapulco.  I think Djokovic again wins in a tight match. 

STADIUM 2

[4] Kei Nishikori (JPN) vs. [25] Gilles Muller (LUX) H2H – Nichikori’s return of serve should undermine Muller’s game enough to win in 2 sets.

[15] Nick Kyrgios (AUS) vs. [18] Alexander Zverev (GER) H2H – Take cover.

[12] Grigor Dimitrov (BUL) vs. [17] Jack Sock (USA) H2H – Dimitrov’s early season surge warrants a lot of attention at Indian Wells.  Could he do what Jim Courier did in 1991 and use Indian Wells as a major spring board?

STADIUM 3

[14] Lucas Pouille (FRA) vs. Donald Young (USA) H2H

[WC] Taylor Fritz (USA) vs. Malek Jaziri (TUN) H2H – I keep picking Jaziri’s opponents and keep being wrong.  Why mess with a good thing?