ATP Indian Wells Day 3 Predictions Including Felix Auger-Aliassime vs Gael Monfils

The top male players are set to begin their 2026 BNP Paribas Open journeys on Friday. With more than a dozen second-round matches scheduled for the weekend, this preview examines the upcoming clashes in California's desert. Featured among these predictions is the anticipated match between Canada's top player, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and the seasoned veteran Gael Monfils. The question remains: who will emerge victorious?

ATP Indian Wells Day 3 Predictions

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina vs Zachary Svajda

Head-to-head: Davidovich Fokina 1-0

Alejandro Davidovich Fokina experienced an early exit in the second round of his last tournament in Acapulco. He now faces Zachary Svajda, an American player currently in strong form, who notably defeated Marin Cilic in the opening round of the BNP Paribas Open. Davidovich Fokina holds a 7-5 win-loss record heading into the hard court season. In contrast, Svajda boasts an impressive 15-4 record this season, which includes his ATP Challenger Tour performances. As a Californian native, Svajda will enjoy local support. While Davidovich Fokina did overcome Svajda recently in Dallas, the momentum suggests an upset here. Svajda is predicted to turn the tables.

Prediction: Svajda in 3 sets

Tomas Martin Etcheverry vs Denis Shapovalov

Head-to-head: Shapovalov 1-0

Tomas Martin Etcheverry is fresh off a significant career achievement, having won the ATP 500 Rio tournament in February. Following this success, the Argentinian subsequently withdrew from his next event in Chile. In their sole previous encounter in 2024, Denis Shapovalov defeated Etcheverry in straight sets. Shapovalov's recent impressive victory over Stefanos Tsitsipas on Wednesday indicates his comfort and form on North American hard courts. While Etcheverry is a formidable opponent, his transition to hard courts might prove challenging, leading to the assessment that Shapovalov holds an advantage.

Prediction: Shapovalov in 3 sets

Lorenzo Musetti vs Márton Fucsovics

Head-to-head: First meeting

This match will be Lorenzo Musetti's first competitive appearance since a disappointing mid-match injury withdrawal from the Australian Open quarterfinals. Márton Fucsovics is gradually rediscovering his top form in 2026. However, if Musetti is fully recovered and fit, he possesses the consistency and current level of play to secure a victory. Fucsovics has a strong record in the United States, having notably won his last hard court title at the 2025 Winston-Salem Open.

Prediction: Musetti in 2 sets

Félix Auger-Aliassime vs Gael Monfils

Head-to-head: 1-1

The initial encounter between Auger-Aliassime and Monfils occurred in a significant 2020 final, a period when the Canadian was emerging on the ATP Tour. In that Rotterdam final, Monfils comfortably defeated Auger-Aliassime with scores of 6-2, 6-4. This victory marked Monfils' most recent ATP 500 title, and he is slated to retire following the 2026 French Open. On paper, Auger-Aliassime is expected to be the favorite in this upcoming match. However, Monfils is known to excel on slower hard courts. It's noteworthy that all of Monfils' victories against Top 10 players since 2020 have been on outdoor hard courts. Therefore, anticipate a spirited challenge from the Frenchman against a player who often displays inconsistent performance.

Prediction: Auger-Aliassime in 3 sets