The seeds are starting to go head-to-head at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, as competition moves into the third round. One such matchup is an all-American showdown between Ben Shelton and Learner Tien. As for Tommy Paul, he is going up against unseeded Joao Fonseca.
Here are my picks for two of Sunday’s best matchups.
Joao Fonseca vs. (23) Tommy Paul
Fonseca came into the season with a back injury and predictably struggled throughout the first two months of 2026, but he is heating up now. The world No. 35 warmed up for the Indian Wells Masters by winning MGM Slam 10-point tiebreaker exhibition in Las Vegas and he now finds himself in the Indian Wells third round. Fonseca opened with a 7-6(2), 6-4 victory over Raphael Collignon before sending Karen Khachanov packing 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 after saving two match points on Saturday.
The 19-year-old Brazilian is getting night-session treatment on Sunday for a second contest against Paul, who won their only previous showdown 7-6(7), 7-6(3) last season on the red clay of Madrid. Paul has already earned 12 match wins this year, including a runner-up effort in Delray Beach and a 6-1, 6-2 destruction of Zizou Bergs on Friday. With the 24th-ranked American playing great and also having the rest advantage, he should have the edge in this one.
Pick: Paul in 3
(8) Ben Shelton vs. (25) Learner Tien
Shelton is already on his proverbial second life in Tennis Paradise. The 23-year-old American was clearly under the weather during his first-round battle against countryman Reilly Opelka on Friday, but he managed to hold serve the entire time — so a lone break in the third set was enough for a 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3 success. Shelton is now 11-2 in 2026 with a quarterfinal performance at the Australian Open and an ATP 500 title in Dallas.
Up next for the world No. 8 is another all-American affair with Tien, who won their only previous tilt 6-4, 7-6(2) last summer on the grass of Mallorca. Tien is rolling right now, up to No. 27 in the world at only 20 years old. The lefty advanced to the QFs at Melbourne Park and the SFs in Delray Beach before dismissing Adam Walton in straight sets on Friday in IW. Even if Shelton is 100 percent, Tien has a good shot at prevailing.
Pick: Tien in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
