Indian Wells 2023: Pablo Carreno Busta vs Andy Murray preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | BNP Paribas Open
Match details
Fixture: (15) Pablo Carreno Busta vs Andy Murray
Date: March 11, 2023
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open
Round: Second round (Round of 64)
Venue: Indian Wells, California, USA
Category: ATP Masters 1000
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $8,800,000
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Andy Murray preview
World No. 17 Pablo Carreno Busta will face off against three-time Major champion Andy Murray in the second round of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open on Saturday.
Carreno Busta started the year with a three-set defeat to Kwon Soon-woo in the first round of the Adelaide International 2. He made a winning start at the Australian Open by ousting Pedro Cachin, but lost to Benjamin Bonzi in the second round in five sets.
The Spaniard then competed at the ABN AMRO Open in Rotterdam. In the opening round, he claimed the first set against Richard Gasquet, but ultimately went on to lose the match in three sets.
Murray, meanwhile, took on Tomas Martin Etcheverry in the first round at Indian Wells on Thursday. The Brit held five break points in the first set for a 2-1 lead, but was unable to get the job done. He then fell behind 4-2, but managed to level the score in no time.
The set eventually went into a tie-break, with Etcheverry coming out on top to clinch the opener. Murray delivered a strong response in the next set, dropping just one game en route to claiming it.
The duo were evenly matched in the third set. It took Murray some time, but he finally managed to break his opponent's serve in the ninth game. The former World No. 1 served out the match in the following game to wrap up a 6-7(5), 6-1, 6-4 comeback victory in a little over three hours.
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Andy Murray head-to-head
Despite being on tour for years by now, this is set to be the very first meeting between them. The head-to-head stands at 0-0 for now.
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Andy Murray odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Pablo Carreno Busta vs Andy Murray prediction
Murray's win over Etcheverry was yet another display of his tenacity. None of his victories this year have been in straight sets. The Brit has staged multiple comebacks from difficult positions and has outlasted his younger opponents in lengthy marathon battles.
Carreno Busta, on the other hand, is going through a rough patch. He has just one win under his belt so far this year. Unlike Murray, who has won all of his matches that have gone into the deciding set this season, the Spaniard has lost all of them.
Carreno Busta has come up short during critical moments of late, while Murray has risen to the occasion multiple times now. The Brit is in much better form at the moment and, by his own admission, is physically in great shape as well. Expect the former World No. 1 to advance further.
Pick: Andy Murray to win in three sets.