Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Indian Wells Masters match.
Spanish clay-court specialist Roberto Carballés Baena faces a tough opening test at the Indian Wells Masters against Christopher O’Connell, who thrives on hard courts and has consistently progressed through early rounds at major tournaments.
Roberto Carballés Baena
Carballés Baena has endured a rough start to 2025, losing four consecutive matches, including early eliminations at two clay-court events. The Spaniard was beaten in straight sets by Mariano Navone in Brazil and suffered another loss to Dušan Lajović in Buenos Aires. Roberto has struggled on hard courts, with a negative win-loss record over the past six seasons and just nine victories in his last 24 matches against top-100 opponents.
Christopher O’Connell
O’Connell first broke into the ATP top 100 in 2022 and has remained a steady presence ever since. The Australian has won seven of his 12 matches in 2025, and in 2024, he successfully navigated the opening round in nine of the 14 tournaments he entered. His recent performance in Dubai showcased his potential, as he came through qualifying and impressively won the first set against Grigor Dimitrov (6:0). Against players outside the ATP top 50, O’Connell has an impressive record, winning 16 of his last 21 matches.
Roberto Carballés Baena vs Christopher O’Connell Prediction
Carballés Baena has historically struggled on hard courts, and there’s little to suggest this match will be any different. O’Connell, on the other hand, is far more comfortable on fast surfaces and arrives in better form. Expect the Australian to take control and secure the win.
