2021 Indian Wells Masters Third Round – Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
When is Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev on and what time does it start? Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev will take place on Monday 11th October, 2021 – not before 21:30 (UK)
Where is Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev taking place? Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev will take place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in California, USA
What surface is Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev being played on? Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev will take place on an outdoor hard court
Where can I get tickets for Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev? Visit this link for the latest ticket information for Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev
What channel is Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev on? Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev will be televised on the Amazon Prime Video app on smart TVs
Where can I stream Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev? Amazon Prime subscribers can stream Denis Shapovalov vs Aslan Karatsev live via their platform. Subscribers of Tennis TV can also stream the match live
THE LOWDOWN
Ninth seed Denis Shapovalov was granted a free ride in his first match at Indian Wells after compatriot Vasek Pospisil was forced to retire early in the first set. 22-year-old Shapovalov has needed a break like that to get safely installed into a tournament, with just three wins from nine matches played since his incredible run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon was ended by Novak Djokovic. The Canadian was a Masters finalist at the 2019 Paris Masters but he has never made it past the round of 16 here. 28-year-old Aslan Karatsev knows all about stunning runs to the semi-finals of Grand Slams after he became the first qualifier in decades to reach the last four at the Australian Open at the start of the year. Since then the Russian has won a first ATP title at the Dubai Open and he also beat Novak Djokovic at the Serbia Open in one of the best matches of the entire season.
THE PREDICTION
A first meeting between two of the more unpredictable men on tour should be a vastly exciting one but terribly hard to predict. The slower conditions at Indian Wells should suit Karatsev’s unorthodox playstyle of taking the ball incredibly early but it could equally give Shapovalov that extra millisecond to make more of his low-percentage, high-reward shots. There are probably three sets in this one and given Karatsev has been in a rich vein of form recently, and Shapovalov has not, take Karatsev to win at least a set here.
