Indian Wells Masters 2023: Jannik Sinner vs Stan Wawrinka preview, head-to-head, prediction, odds and pick | BNP Paribas Open
Match details
Fixture: (11) Jannik Sinner vs (PR) Stan Wawrinka
Date: March 14, 2023
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open
Round: Fourth round (Round of 16)
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
Jannik Sinner vs Stan Wawrinka preview
World No. 13 Jannik Sinner will take on three-time Major champion Stan Wawrinka in the fourth round of the 2023 BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday.
Sinner defeated Richard Gasquet in two competitive sets to set up a third-round encounter with another Frenchman, Adrian Mannarino. Neither player got a whiff of a break point in the opening set. The momentum swung wildly in the ensuing tie-break.
Mannarino was the first to have a set point, but squandered his shot at closing out the set. Sinner wasted his first one as well, but got the job done on his second set point. Both players remained steady on serve for the better part of the second set as well.
Sinner nabbed the decisive break in the ninth game of the set, following which he served out the match to win 7-6 (7), 6-4. He'll now be eyeing a first quarterfinal appearance in the California desert.
Wawrinka knocked out Aleksandar Vukic and Miomir Kecmanovic to reach the third round, where Holger Rune awaited him. The Swiss raced to a 5-1 lead in the first set, but stumbled while trying to close out the set as he got broken.
However, Wawrinka broke back immediately in the next game to clinch the set. He initially remained in control in the second set, securing a break of serve and serving for the match at 5-3.
Rune then saved a match point to break his opponent's serve and take the set into a tie-break later on. Wawrinka led 5-2 in it as well, but the teenager staged another comeback to claim the set.
The deciding set was an intense affair, but it was Wawrinka who eventually gained the upper hand. He bagged the last three games in a row to win the match 6-2, 6-7 (5), 7-5.
Jannik Sinner vs Stan Wawrinka head-to-head
The two have split their previous four meetings evenly to tie the head-to-head at 2-2. Sinner won their last encounter at the 2023 ABN AMRO Open in straight sets.
Jannik Sinner vs Stan Wawrinka odds
(Odds are sourced from BetMGM)
Jannik Sinner vs Stan Wawrinka prediction
Wawrinka recovered well after wasting a match point in the second set and coming out on top in three sets. He handled Rune's serve quite well, often putting him on the backfoot and dominating most of the baseline duels as well. The Swiss blasted 43 winners in total, while committing 21 unforced errors.
Sinner didn't face a single break point against Mannarino in the previous round. While the match was fairly competitive, the young Italian never really looked in trouble.
Wawrinka won his first couple of matches against Sinner, but the latter has won both of their most recent ones. The 37-year old is still giving the next generation of players a tough time with his backhand, finding winners from all corners of the court.
Sinner is one of the most consistent players on the tour at the moment with respect to his results and game. He's perfectly capable of weathering any challenge from Wawrinka and is likely to send the Swiss packing.
Pick: Jannik Sinner to win in three sets.