Indian Wells Masters: Mannarino vs Thiem Tennis Prediction & Pick

TennisSection previews the 2023 Indian Wells Masters as Adrian Mannarino takes on Dominic Thiem in the first round on Wednesday, March 8, 2023.

We have the pick of the first-round matches at the 2023 Indian Wells Masters pitting former champion Dominic Thiem, entering the tournament as a wild card, against flat-hitting Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. Who will prevail?

Adrian Mannarino vs. Dominic Thiem Match Preview

Adrian Mannarino and Dominic Thiem are both unseeded at this tournament. Thiem of course is entering the 2023 Indian Wells Masters as a wild card. Mannarino, for his part, has a terrible record in recent years at this tournament. In fact, he is on a dismal run of form, having lost three in a row in recent weeks. Can he somehow turn his fortunes around at the desert and pick up his first complete career win over the Austrian?

Dominic Thiem, it has to be said, has fared poorly in 2023. He has won once this season. That was the straight sets win over Alex Molcan on the red clay of Buenos Aires. He is 1-7 coming into the Indian Wells Masters. But Thiem will keen to get his season back on track at the desert. He has previously won this tournament. And the slow conditions this fortnight could aid Thiem to bide his time in unfurling his powerful ground strokes. Will he pick his second win of the season at the expense of Adrian Mannarino?

Adrian Mannarino vs. Dominic Thiem Prediction and Pick

Dominic Thiem leads Adrian Mannarino 8-1 in their head-to-head, with Mannarino’s solitary win classified as a retirement win. Incidentally, it was this matchup that perhaps cost Dominic Thiem’s career at the top level. In 2021 at the Mallorca Open, he injured his wrist. And he’s never been the same player. Still, we reckon he will flourish on these conditions and on the slow-playing surface at the Indian Wells Masters which requires one to hit through the court with a lot of power. Something Mannarino might lack.