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    Indian Wells 2026 Day 3: Men’s and Women’s singles predictions ft. Aryna Sabalenka vs Himeno Sakatsume, Lorenzo Musetti vs Marton Fucsovics | BNP Paribas Open

    The second round of the singles tournament in Indian Wells will commence on Day 3. A total of 37 matches will take place at the BNP Paribas Open, with several big names in action.

    The likes of Jannik Sinner, Aryna Sabalenka, and Coco Gauff will start their respective campaigns against Dalibor Svrcina, Himeno Sakatsume, and Kamilla Rakhimova. Amanda Anisimova will also be in action as she takes on Anna Blinkova.

    Others who will also feature include Naomi Osaka, Tommy Paul, Iva Jovic, and Ben Shelton. On that note, let us take a look at the predictions for the singles matches that will take place on Day 3 of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.


    Indian Wells 2026 Day 3 singles predictions

    Aryna Sabalenka vs Himeno Sakatsume

    World No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka will commence her campaign in Indian Wells against Japanese qualifier Himeno Sakatsume. Whoever wins will take on either the 29th seed, Maya Joint, or Jaqueline Cristian in the third round of the WTA 1000 event.

    Sabalenka is competing in her first tournament since losing the Australian Open final, while Sakatsume booked her place in the second round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over Alycia Parks. This was the Japanese’s first main-draw win of the 2026 season.

    Sabalenka, who has been in incredible form for quite some time, should have little trouble getting the better of Sakatsume.

    Predicted Winner: Sabalenka in straight sets.


    Lorenzo Musetti vs Marton Fucsovics

    Fifth seed Lorenzo Musetti will face Marton Fucsovics in the second round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The winner of the match will take on either the 30th seed, Arthur Fils, or qualifier Dino Prizmic in the third round of the Masters 1000 event.

    Fucsovics booked his place in the second round in Indian Wells after a 7-5, 6-3 win over Christopher O’Connell, while Musetti received a bye due to his seeding. Both players have played nine matches so far in 2026, with the Italian winning seven while the Hungarian won four.

    Musetti hasn’t played a single match since his heartbreaking retirement against Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open quarterfinals after taking the first two sets. Fucsovics, on the other hand, hasn’t won over two main-draw matches at a tournament since the Winston-Salem Open last August.

    If Musetti is at his best, then he should be able to get the better of Fucsovics and reach the third round in Indian Wells.

    Predicted Winner: Musetti in straight sets.


    Learner Tien vs Adam Walton

    25th seed Learner Tien will face Adam Walton for a place in the third round of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells. The American won the previous encounter between the two in Delray Beach last year, and whoever wins this time will take on either eighth seed Ben Shelton or Reilly Opelka.

    While Tien’s seeding saw him receive a bye to the second round in Indian Wells, Walton triumphed 6-3, 6-3 over Quentin Halys in the opening round. Tien has had a decent start to the 2026 season with seven wins in 11 matches so far, including reaching the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. Walton, on the other hand, has won just two out of seven main-draw fixtures.

    Given Tien’s superior run of form and the crowd support, he should be able to get the better of Walton and reach the third round in Indian Wells.

    Predicted Winner: Tien in straight sets.


    Linda Noskova vs Jessica Bouzas Maneiro

    Predicted Winner: Noskova in straight sets.


    Alexander Zverev vs Matteo Berrettini

    Predicted Winner: Zverev in straight sets.


    Victoria Mboko vs Kimberly Birrell

    Predicted Winner: Mboko in straight sets.


    Ben Shelton vs Reilly Opelka

    Predicted Winner: Shelton in straight sets.


    Coco Gauff vs Kamilla Rakhimova

    Predicted Winner: Gauff in straight sets.


    Frances Tiafoe vs Jenson Brooksby

    Predicted Winner: Tiafoe in three sets.


    Félix Auger-Aliassime vs Gael Monfils

    Predicted Winner: Auger-Aliassime in straight sets.


    Jannik Sinner vs Dalibor Svrcina

    Predicted Winner: Sinner in straight sets.


    Naomi Osaka vs Victoria Jimenez Kasintseva

    Predicted Winner: Osaka in three sets.


    Iva Jovic vs Camila Osorio

    Predicted Winner: Jovic in straight sets.


    Amanda Anisimova vs Anna Blinkova

    Predicted Winner: Anisimova in three sets.


    Tommy Paul vs Zizou Bergs

    Predicted Winner: Paul in three sets.


    Alexandra Eala vs Dayana Yastremska

    Predicted Winner: Eala in straight sets.


    Emma Raducanu vs Anastasia Zakharova

    Predicted Winner: Raducanu in straight sets.


    Flavio Cobolli vs Miomir Kecmanovic

    Predicted Winner: Cobolli in three sets.


    Diana Shnaider vs Sorana Cirstea

    Predicted Winner: Cirstea in three sets.


    Jasmine Paolini vs Anastasia Potapova

    Predicted Winner: Paolini in straight sets.


    Arthur Fils vs Dino Prizmic

    Predicted Winner: Fils in straight sets.


    Brandon Nakashima vs Camilo Ugo Carabelli

    Predicted Winner: Nakashima to win in three sets.


    Denis Shapovalov vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry

    Predicted Winner: Shapovalov in straight sets.


    Jakub Mensik vs Marcos Giron

    Predicted Winner: Mensik in straight sets.


    Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Zachary Svajda

    Predicted Winner: Davidovich Fokina to win in straight sets.


    Clara Tauson vs Yulia Putintseva

    Predicted Winner: Tauson to win in three sets.


    Ekaterina Alexandrova vs Talia Gibson

    Predicted Winner: Alexandrova to win in straight sets.


    Ajla Tomljanovic vs Wang Xinyu

    Predicted Winner: Wang in three sets.


    Anna Kalinskaya vs Zeynep Sonmez

    Predicted Winner: Sonmez to win in straight sets.


    Maya Joint vs Jaqueline Cristian

    Predicted Winner: Joint to win in straight sets.