The seeds are beginning to go head-to-head on the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, as competitors strikes into the third spherical. One such matchup is an all-American showdown between Ben Shelton and Learner Tien. As for Tommy Paul, he’s going up towards unseeded Joao Fonseca.
Here are my picks for 2 of Sunday’s greatest matchups.
Joao Fonseca vs. (23) Tommy Paul
Fonseca got here into the season with a again harm and predictably struggled all through the primary two months of 2026, however he’s heating up now. The world No. 35 warmed up for the Indian Wells Masters by successful MGM Slam 10-point tiebreaker exhibition in Las Vegas and he now finds himself within the Indian Wells third spherical. Fonseca opened with a 7-6(2), 6-4 victory over Raphael Collignon earlier than sending Karen Khachanov packing 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4 after saving two match factors on Saturday.
The 19-year-old Brazilian is getting night-session remedy on Sunday for a second contest towards Paul, who gained their solely earlier showdown 7-6(7), 7-6(3) final season on the purple clay of Madrid. Paul has already earned 12 match wins this yr, together with a runner-up effort in Delray Beach and a 6-1, 6-2 destruction of Zizou Bergs on Friday. With the Twenty fourth-ranked American enjoying nice and likewise having the remainder benefit, he ought to have the sting on 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 underneath the climate throughout his first-round battle towards countryman Reilly Opelka on Friday, however he managed to carry serve your complete time — so a lone break within the third set was sufficient for a 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3 success. Shelton is now 11-2 in 2026 with a quarterfinal efficiency on the Australian Open and an ATP 500 title in Dallas.
Up subsequent for the world No. 8 is one other all-American affair with Tien, who gained their solely earlier tilt 6-4, 7-6(2) final summer season on the grass of Mallorca. Tien is rolling proper now, as much as No. 27 on this planet at solely 20 years outdated. The lefty superior to the QFs at Melbourne Park and the SFs in Delray Beach earlier than dismissing Adam Walton in straight units on Friday in IW. Even if Shelton is 100%, Tien has a very good shot at prevailing.
Pick: Tien in 3
Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and likewise maintains his personal tennis web site, The Grandstand. You can observe him on Twitter at @Dimonator.
