Three to See, Indian Wells Day 3: Murray vs. Daniel; Raducanu vs. Garcia; Svitolina vs. Dart
The 2021 US Open women's champion could have drawn a less in-form opponent. Can the 19-year-old get back into the win column Friday at the BNP Paribas Open?
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Andy Murray vs Taro Daniel
The rivalry of 2022 so far is…Murray-Daniel? They’ve played twice this season, and each has won once. Who will take the rubber match when open up the day session in Stadium 1 on Friday? If he’s anywhere near his top form, a three-time Grand Slam champion should beat an opponent who has never been ranked higher than No. 64. But so far this year, Murray’s form rises and falls wildly from one day to the next. In each of his last three tournaments, in Rotterdam, Doha, and Dubai, he has looked promisingly good in the first round, and deflatingly bad in the second. This is a first round. Winner: Murray
Emma Raducanu vs. Caroline Garcia
You remember how smooth Raducanu’s path was through the US Open last September? It has been about as rocky since. Injuries, Covid, expectations, rustiness, coaching issues: The 19-year-old has had a crash course in the struggles that can come with early success. What she doesn’t have a lot of in 2022 are wins—she has won one match, to be exact. Can she get a second in the main stadium against Garcia? As the No. 11 seed, Raducanu could have drawn a less in-form opponent. Garcia is coming off a semifinal appearance in Lyon last week, and a three-set win over Dayana Yastremska two days ago. Garcia may be a little tired, but she won’t feel the same pressure that Raducanu will. Winner: Raducanu
Elina Svitolina vs. Harriet Dart
“I’m playing for my country,” Svitolina said last week in Monterrey, during an emotional trip to the quarterfinals. Can the Odessa native keep carrying that kind of weight week in and week out? With the Russian invasion of her country intensifying, Svitolina will take Stadium 4 on Friday afternoon to face Dart for the first time. On a normal day, Svitolina would be a heavy favorite: She’s ranked No. 18 and has been as high as No. 3, while Dart has never been higher than No. 120. The Brit’s best hope may be her lack of rustiness. While Svitolina will be taking her first swings in Indian Wells, Dart has already won two qualifying matches and her first round over Ana Konjuh. It probably won’t be enough. Winner: Svitolina
