The BNP Paribas Open moves into its third day with some intriguing second-round matchups on the card. Day one produced a couple of surprises; Zeynep Sonmez beat McCartney Kessler, Yulia Putintseva dispatched Paula Badosa in just 83 minutes, and Kimberly Birrell rolled through Oksana Selekhmeteva, setting up the four contests here. As always, we here at LWOT will be offering our predictions for every match on the schedule. But who will advance?
WTA Indian Wells Day 3 Predictions
Alexandra Eala vs Dayana Yastremska
Head-to-Head: Eala 1–0 Yastremska
Yastremska came through qualifying to get here and has lost her opening match in three of her last four events, so she arrives on the back foot. Alexandra Eala, meanwhile, reached the quarterfinals in Dubai, beating world No.7 Jasmine Paolini along the way. Their only prior meeting, a straight-sets win for the Filipina, came on grass, but the momentum gap between these two right now is hard to ignore.
Prediction: Eala in 2
Anna Kalinskaya vs Zeynep Sonmez
Head-to-Head: First meeting
Sonmez is having a genuine breakout year — a first WTA title in Merida and a strong Australian Open run from qualifying — and her first-round demolition of Kessler showed real conviction. Kalinskaya, though, is the more complete player at this level. Her ball-striking is clean, and she knows how to manage big matches. Sonmez has the tools to make it uncomfortable, but Kalinskaya’s experience at 1000-level events should see her over the line.
Prediction: Kalinskaya in 3
Clara Tauson vs Yulia Putintseva
Head-to-Head: Putintseva 1–0 Tauson
Putintseva was clinical against Badosa in round one, needing just 83 minutes and converting five of eight break points. Her defensive game and court craft are well-suited to disrupting bigger hitters, and she holds the head-to-head edge on hard. Tauson reached the Dubai quarterfinals without dropping a set, so her ball-striking is in good order, and her power should eventually be the difference. But expect Putintseva to make her work for it.
Prediction: Tauson in 3
Victoria Mboko vs Kimberly Birrell
Head-to-Head: Mboko 2–0 Birrell
Birrell is in decent form after a semifinal run in Austin, but she faces a player operating at a different level entirely. Victoria Mboko has gone 13-4 this season, reached the fourth round of the Australian Open, and made the Doha final, beating Andreeva and Rybakina along the way. She won their most recent meeting in Adelaide in straight sets, and her combination of physicality and aggressive baseline play is a tough puzzle for Birrell to solve.
Prediction: Mboko in 2
Main Photo Credit: Mike Frey – Imagn Images
