The remaining fourth-round spots at the Indian Wells Masters will be handed out on Monday, when Taylor Fritz faces fellow American Alex Michelsen. Daniil Medvedev continues his title quest against Sebastian Baez.
(11) Daniil Medvedev vs. Sebastian Baez
Medvedev took the circuitous route from Dubai to Indian Wells — and he didn’t have any choice. Amidst the ongoing war in the Middle East, his travel included a seven-hour car ride to Oman and then multiple plane flights that went from Istanbul eventually to Palm Springs. Whatever the case, there appears to be no stopping Medvedev. The 11th-ranked Russian is 14-3 this season with two titles (including Dubai), and he thrashed Alejandro Tabilo 6-4, 6-2 at the BNP Paribas Open on Saturday night.
Up next for the 29-year-old on Monday is a second encounter with Baez, who lost their only previous meeting 6-2, 6-2, 7-6(6) at the 2023 U.S. Open. This is quite simply a matchup between two of the hottest players on tour, as Baez has already earned a whopping 14 ATP-level match wins in 2026. The 53rd-ranked Argentine has advanced this fortnight by ousting Chun-Hsin Tseng and Jiri Lehecka in straight sets. Conditions at this event are by no means bad for Baez, but he still can’t be trusted on any surface other than true clay.
Pick: Medvedev in 2
Alex Michelsen vs. (7) Taylor Fritz
Indian Wells is an appropriate setting for this showdown featuring fellow California natives. The crowd will undoubtedly be engrossed in what is just the second head-to-head contest between Fritz and Michelsen. Their only previous encounter came on the red clay of Geneva in 2024, when Michelsen prevailed 6-4, 4-6, 7-5.
You have to think Fritz will get revenge on his Indian Wells stomping grounds. This has always been the 28-year-old’s favorite tournament, which he won in 2022 after reaching the semifinals in 2021. Fritz opened 6-3, 6-7(8), 6-1 victory over Jake Fearnley on Saturday, but he was the dominant player from start to finish despite throwing away the second set in shocking fashion. Michelsen is coming off a much tougher three-set thriller against Ugo Humbert late on Saturday night — which the 21-year-old survived 7-5, 6-7(5), 7-6(6) after two hours and 46 minutes. He preceded that result with a 6-3, 6-4 victory over qualifier Daniel Meria. Michelsen is playing well, but Fritz is more rested and is looking like a legitimate contender to once again reach at least the semis in Tennis Paradise.
Pick: Fritz in 2