The ATP Indian Wells 2026 edition is well underway and we have the Round of 32 action upon us. Top seeds are in action as it promises to be a fantastic day of tennis. As ever, we preview and predict all the scheduled matches for you.

ATP Indian Wells Day 6 Predictions
Casper Ruud vs Valentin Vacherot

Head-to-head – First Meeting

Casper Ruud suffered an early exit in Acapulco and, after reaching the fourth round at the Australian Open, hasn’t picked up many wins lately. Valentin Vacherot will look to prove his Shanghai win was no fluke and arrives with confidence after a quarterfinal run in Acapulco. Indian Wells generally plays slow, which should give Ruud time to counter Vacherot’s serve and groundstrokes. Expect a hard-fought victory for Ruud.
Prediction: Ruud in 3

Francisco Cerundolo vs Jack Draper

Head-to-head – Cerundolo 2-0 Draper

Francisco Cerundolo< has started the season well on clay and arrives with solid rhythm from the baseline. Jack Draper returned from injury recently but suffered an early loss in Dubai and may still be finding his form. While Draper has enjoyed success at Indian Wells before, Cerundolo’s current consistency from the baseline could make the difference. Expect the Argentine to grind out the win.
Prediction: Cerundolo in 3

Alexander Bublik vs Rinky Hijikata

Head-to-head – First Meeting

Alexander Bublik is still searching for a deep run this season but remains a dangerous opponent with his big serve and attacking style. Rinky Hijikata did well to battle through qualifying and can be a tricky opponent on his day. However, there is a noticeable gap in serve power and baseline quality between the two. Expect Bublik to dominate if he finds his rhythm.
Prediction: Bublik in 2

Carlos Alcaraz vs Arthur Rinderknech

Head-to-head – Alcaraz 5-0 Rinderknech

>Carlos Alcaraz has started the tournament strongly as expected, and it will take a special performance to stop him. Arthur Rinderknech has already lost to Alcaraz five times, highlighting the gap between the two. While the Frenchman is a solid all-around player with a strong serve, Alcaraz is currently doing almost everything better. Expect the Spaniard to remain in control and advance comfortably.
Prediction: Alcaraz in 2

Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey-Imagn Images