Indian Wells Masters: Shapovalov vs Humbert Tennis Prediction

TennisSection previews the 2023 Indian Wells Masters as Denis Shapovalov takes on Ugo Humbert in the second round on Friday, March 10, 2023.

Will 25th seed Denis Shapovalov begin his 2023 Indian Wells Masters campaign with a bang? Or could he succumb to another early defeat against fellow lefty Ugo Humbert? This should be a fascinating matchup with plenty of breathtaking rallies. So who will prevail?

Denis Shapovalov vs. Ugo Humbert Match Preview

Denis Shapovalov is 5-5 for the season. The Canadian lefty suffered some surprise losses in North America in February, losing early in Dallas and Delray. A second-round defeat to Taylor Fritz in Acapulco means that Shapovalov has one win in his last five matches – hardly a stat that will strike fear into Ugo Humbert ahead of their clash at the 2023 Indian Wells Masters.

Ugo Humbert, meanwhile, has enjoyed a rapid return to form. Last month, the Frenchman picked up a leg injury after a nasty fall during his match against Davidovich Fokina in Montpellier. Initially, it was thought Humbert would miss several weeks away from the court, but he has since recovered in record time and went on to reach the Pau Challenger final at the start of the month. He spurned two match points and ended up losing in the longest Challenger final in history to compatriot Luca Van Assche.

Denis Shapovalov vs. Ugo Humbert Prediction and Pick

Denis Shapovalov leads Ugo Humbert 3-1 in their head-to-head. Only once have they played on a hard court in the series, with Humbert taking that match in Auckland back in 2020. Shapovalov has imploded since leaving Australia. His defeat to Michael Mmoh was perhaps the most surprising of the three he has recorded on North American soil. Humbert has rejoined the top 100 and is playing extremely well. Shapovalov is quickly learning how unforgiving the Tour can be when you drop your guard. We like the games spread here but feel the Frenchman will be the clinical baseliner in this one.