Second-round motion in Indian Wells will get underway on Friday, with an intriguing matchup between Ugo Humbert and Kei Nishikori on the schedule. Daniil Medvedev will attempt to modify to the circumstances in opposition to Bu Yunchaokete.Kei Nishikori vs. (18) Ugo Humbert
France’s Ugo Humbert has continued his glorious type final 12 months into the 2025 season. The 26-year-old received a title at his residence occasion in Marseille final month. He got here up brief in Dubai, the place he misplaced within the second spherical to Tallon Griekspoor, however general it has been a promising begin to the season. He will probably be trying to financial institution some factors in Indian Wells and Miami earlier than shifting onto the clay, his least profitable floor.
Japanese veteran Kei Nishikori could be within the twilight of his profession. The 35-year-old is ranked 76th on the planet and hasn’t received a title since 2019. The Japanese veteran is a mediocre 6-5 for the season–and maybe extra regarding is that 4 of the wins got here at his first match of the 12 months in Hong Kong. Since then, he has received three matches in 5 tournaments–together with one this week over Jaume Munar.
It’s a very good signal for Nishikori that he pocketed a win within the first spherical, however Humbert ought to transfer by way of.
(5) Daniil Medvedev vs Bu Yunchaokete
Daniil Medvedev has had a tumultuous season to date. The No. 5 seed, who is thought for his sizzling mood and on-court antics, was fined $76,000 on the Australian Open in January for smashing rackets and purposely hitting one of many on-court cameras. Then in Dubai he crashed out within the quarterfinals to Griekspoor, squandering 4 match factors alongside the way in which. He accused chair umpire Adel Nour of discriminating in opposition to him as a result of he’s Russian.
Medvedev began off this week complaining concerning the change of floor on the Indian Wells Tennis Backyard. He claimed that it was “almost slower than before.” He’ll kick off his 2025 BNP Paribas Open bid in opposition to China’s Bu Yunchaokete. The world No. 71 pocketed a stable straight-set win over promising American Nishesh Basavareddy within the first spherical, however his second-round match versus Medvedev isn’t prone to be as profitable.
Medvedev and Bu haven’t performed earlier than. Regardless of a lukewarm begin to the season, the Russian needs to be effectively positioned to advance to the final 32.
