Indian Wells Masters 2023: Andy Murray vs Jack Draper preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | BNP Paribas Open
Match details
Fixture: Andy Murray vs Jack Draper.
Date: March 13, 2023.
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open.
Round: Third round (Round of 32).
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.
Andy Murray vs Jack Draper preview
Former World No. 1 Andy Murray will square off against compatriot Jack Draper in the third round of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open on Monday.
Murray's three-set comeback win over Tomas Martin Etcheverry set up a second-round showdown against 15th seed Pablo Carreno Busta. However, the Spaniard withdrew from the tournament and was replaced by lucky loser Radu Albot.
Against Albot, Murray held a few break points early on in the first set, but failed to convert. His perseverance finally bore fruit as he broke his opponent's serve in the 10th game of the set to clinch the opener.
The Brit continued to dominate the proceedings in the second set as well. A break of serve in the sixth game helped him go 4-2 up. Murray followed it up with a hold of serve to make it 5-2.
After another game, the three-time Major champion closed out the proceedings to win 6-4, 6-3. It marked his first straight-sets victory of the season as well as his first win in under two hours.
Draper, meanwhile, recorded a dominant win over Leandro Riedi to move into the second round, where he was up against 24th seed Dan Evans. The match started with three consecutive breaks of serve, with the 21-year old gaining the upper hand to lead 2-1.
Draper held on to the lead until the end of the set to claim it. The second set was a bit one-sided as the British youngster bagged five games in a row to win the match 6-4, 6-2.
Andy Murray vs Jack Draper head-to-head
The two have not faced off against each other prior to this, so the head-to-head stands at 0-0.
Andy Murray vs Jack Draper odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Andy Murray vs Jack Draper prediction
Murray will be happy to have finally won a match in straight sets after a while. He was quite solid against Albot in the previous round and didn't face a single break point. The 35-year-old dominated most of the baseline exchanges as well.
Draper has been quite solid in both of his matches here as well, moving past Riedi and Evans with ease. The youngster now has a shot at going toe-to-toe with one of his idols.
Murray went 2/11 on break points in his previous match and cannot afford to fumble his opporunites against a player like Draper. The 21-year-old is pretty solid from the back of the court and is a good server to boot. Being left-handed also gives him a slight edge.
Murray has time and time again shown that he's not willing to go down without a fight. Draper will have his hands full against the former World No. 1, but given how he has played here so far, he'll be expected to win this battle of the Brits.
Pick: Jack Draper to win in three sets.