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The first round of the Indian Wells Masters, dubbed the “unofficial fifth grand slam,” began on Wednesday and will continue on Thursday with multiple matches at 2:00 p.m. ET.
Thursday’s tennis action is headlined by a showdown between a resurgent Andy Murray and clay court specialist Tomas Martin Etcheverry of Argentina.
Andy Murray vs Tomas Martin Etcheverry selection
Although played on a hard court, Indian Wells is known for having the slowest conditions of a hard court tournament on the tennis circuit.
This isn’t like the Australian Open or the US Open, where players with big serves have more margin for error than those without.
Any style of tennis can be played at Indian Wells, making it a fantastic tournament to watch and for the disabled.
Andy Murray and Tomas Martin Etcheverry should be well suited to these conditions.
Murray is known for his defense, consistency and ability to build points.
Andy MurrayGetty Images
There are few, if any, easy spots when Murray is on the court, even in the twilight of his career.
But the Scotch is not cooked yet.
He made an inspiring run to the third round at the Australian Open with a win over Matteo Berrettini and a classic against Thanasi Kokkinakis, before going on to the final in Dubai.
Murray beat Sascha Zverev and Jiri Lehecka in that tournament before bowing out to Daniil Medvedev.
While Murray is a heavy favorite against Etcheverry, it’s hard to see this being a blowout.
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The Argentine does his best work on clay surfaces, but the slow conditions at Indian Wells should be to his liking.
Etcheverry had a strong showing in South America’s ‘Golden Swing’, reaching the quarter-finals in Argentina and the final in Chile, so his form should give him confidence going into this game.
In the end, Murray is probably the winner, but this match promises to be a close contest with both players in top form.
If you’re looking for a moneyline bet, the game would be Etcheverry on the count, but the 21.5 over game looks like a wise play as this game is going to be a grind, full of momentum swings and lead changes.