Maric Cilic is a very unlikable bloke and I don’t feel great about this tip, but he is obviously a very talented tennis player and he represents great value in this Indian Wells clash with Denis Shapovalov. Cilic flogged Shapovalov when they met at Basel last year and I think that the Canadian is a player that is a touch overrated based on what he has achieved during his tennis career to date. I expect Cilic to cruise to victory and he is great value to win in straight sets.
There is apparently no love lost between these former best friends these days, Roger Federer didn’t take kindly to Stan Wawrinka ditching his wife for Donna Vekic, and there could be a bit of spice in this clash. Federer has won 21 of their 24 previous meetings and he has won four of their past five matches in straight sets. Wawrinka is not the player that he once was, I blame Vekic, and a straight set win does seem likely for Federer.
Radu Albot is playing in career best form and this former plodder qualified for Indian Wells after going all the win at the Delray Beach Open. Kyle Edmund has had a very poor start to the season and he was knocked out in the first round at both the Brisbane International and the Australian Open. I am more than happy to take him on at his current form and I am confident that the pride of Moldova can continue on his winning ways.