Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Indian Wells Masters match.
Grigor Dimitrov has ended his losing streak and reached the fourth round in Indian Wells, but his current form remains questionable. The Bulgarian endured a three-hour battle against Gaël Monfils, which drained his energy. Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz has been unstoppable in California for the third straight year, effortlessly dispatching Quentin Halys and Denis Shapovalov without conceding more than six games in a match.
Grigor Dimitrov
Dimitrov has struggled with injuries and poor form this season, winning just two of five matches in 2025. He suffered early eliminations from the Australian Open, Doha, and Dubai, raising concerns about his consistency. In Indian Wells, he overcame Nuno Borges before outlasting Gaël Monfils in a gruelling contest (7:6, 4:6, 7:6). That match included two tiebreaks and showcased his inconsistency on serve, with 3 aces and 7 double faults. Additionally, Dimitrov has lost five of his last seven matches against top-5 players, further highlighting his struggles against elite opposition.
Carlos Alcaraz
The Spanish sensation remains dominant in Indian Wells, winning 89% of his matches here since 2021 (18 of 20). He started 2025 with a title in Rotterdam and has maintained top-level consistency. In his opening round, he comfortably beat Hugo Gaston (6:4, 6:2), winning an incredible 95% of points on his first serve. Against Denis Shapovalov (6:2, 6:4), he faced just one break point and landed 73% of first serves in play.
Grigor Dimitrov vs Carlos Alcaraz Prediction
Dimitrov historically troubles Alcaraz on outdoor hard courts, leading their head-to-head 2-0 in such conditions. However, his current form is poor, and he lacks the stamina to challenge the Spaniard after his exhausting battle with Monfils. Alcaraz has breezed through previous rounds, and this match should follow a similar script.
