Indian Wells Evening Session Preview: Stefanos Tsitsipas vs. Fabio Fognini & More (Oct. 12)

There is a lot to be excited about when it comes to the Tuesday evening slate that's set to unfold at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Some of the most charismatic players the game has to offer will be on display, including Stefanos Tsitsipas, Fabio Fognini and Gael Monfils.

Check out the detailed breakdown of the matchups and possible edges that might exist in the betting odds.

Match times are subject to change. 

Gael Monfils (-240) vs. Kevin Anderson (+185)

9 p.m. ET

This matchup feels like it should be played in 2017, but it's 2021 and the 35-year-old tour veterans are still thriving. Both have enjoyed resurgences in the second half of the year, with Monfils reaching a semifinal in Metz and a final in Sofia, and Anderson winning a title in Newport.

Neither player has dropped a set in their three combined matches thus far in Indian Wells, as Anderson has gotten by Jordan Thompson and Lorenzo Songeo, and Monfils beat Gianluca Mager in the first round.

Unsurprisingly, Monfils and Anderson have met six times at the professional level, but surprisingly, Monfils has earned five victories. Anderson's lone win came on grass at Wimbledon, offering an insight on the style of each player.

Grass will typically be the fastest, most favorable surface toward big servers, but Anderson has failed to get by the Frenchman on other surfaces. They've played on clay and on both indoor/outdoor hard courts, but Anderson has only gotten one set in those five meetings.

Perhaps it explains why the South African is a heavy dog. On the extremely slow courts at Indian Wells, Monfils is rightfully favored to advance. With a serve as big the one Anderson possesses, you can always pose a threat of an upset, but Monfils will like his chances.

Stefanos Tsitsipas (-800) vs. Fabio Fognini (+500)

9 p.m. ET

In a match that should feature some big hitting and a lot of verbiage, Tsitsipas is a massive favorite. Fognini hasn't gotten a marquee win since the Australian Open, where he defeated Alex de Minaur in three dominant sets.

In that eight-month span, Tsitsipas has been elevating his game to a point where he's the the third-ranked player in the world and a contender in every non-grass court tournament he plays. With that being said, the gap between the two was already there to begin with, as the Greek hasn't dropped a set in their two matches played.

Tsitsipas and and Fognini have each played two matches since the US Open. The 23-year-old took care of business at the Laver Cup and in his first round match against Pedro Martinez, and Fognini has looked impressive in his first round San Diego loss against Brandon Nakashima and his first round win here against Jan-Lennard Struff.

Don't completely count out the Italian, as he has the form and talent to push Tsitsipas, but an outright upset would be a real shock.

Alex de Minaur (-160) vs. Cristian Garin (+130)

9 p.m. ET

In normal circumstances, de Minaur would be a significant favorite against Garin on a hard court. However, the Australian has been struggling mightily in recent months, winning just two of his previous nine matches. It's almost incomprehensible for the world No. 27, but de Minaur is in the midst of one of the worst periods of his career.

The Chilean Garin really struggles on hard courts, posting a 34% career win rate on the surface. At the US Open in 2019, de Minaur beat Garin in straight sets. The match is the only professional meeting between the two thus far.

Because of form, these odds are slashed heavily, but Garin might still be worth looking at if you're willing to make the bet that he has turned a corner on hard courts. He looked excellent in his first round meeting with Ernesto Escobedo, but one would think de Minaur presents a different level of threat.

This will be a very fascinating match to watch unfold.