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Match details
Fixture: (5) Caroline Garcia vs (30) Leylah Fernandez
Tournament: BNP Paribas Open
Round: Third round (Round of 32)
Venue: Indian Wells, California, USA
Category: WTA 1000
Surface: Outdoor hardcourt
Prize money: $8,800,000
Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video
Caroline Garcia vs Leylah Fernandez preview
Two big strikers of the tennis ball — Caroline Garcia and Leylah Fernandez — will square off in an exciting third-round encounter at the 2023 BNP Paribas Open on Tuesday.
Garcia, the fifth seed at this year's tournament, came into the competition having rediscovered some of her best form on the South American hardcourts — racing to the summit clash of the Monterrey Open without the loss of a single set against the likes of Kaja Juvan, Mayar Sherif and Elise Mertens.
And while she fell short in the final against Donna Vekic, the result was a welcome change in fortunes after a disappointing run in the Middle East. She suffered early exits in both Doha and Dubai, losing against Maria Sakkari and Madison Keys respectively.
Fernandez, meanwhile, has also endured a rough season in 2023 so far. The Canadian only has four main draw wins in 2023 and is yet to make a deep run in any tournament since reaching the quarterfinals at the season-opening ASB Classic.
That said, Indian Wells has been a happy hunting ground for Fernandez, who has reached the second week in both her previous appearances in the desert.
Caroline Garcia vs Leylah Fernandez head-to-head
Garcia leads Fernandez in their current head-to-head 1-0, having beaten her opponent as recently as this year's Australian Open.
Caroline Garcia vs Leylah Fernandez odds
(Odds to be updated soon)
Caroline Garcia vs Leylah Fernandez prediction
Both Caroline Garcia and Leylah Fernandez possess power-packed games and fans can expect yet another close battle between the two, much the tussle at the Australian Open.
The only marked difference between game styles would be the amount of topspin in the groundstrokes. While Garcia goes for broke on just about every shot, Fernandez adds more topspin to her shots — especially on that lethal forehand. The Canadian also has the advantage of a lefty serve and is known to put it to great use.
On paper, the conditions should suit Fernandez's streak more, but the Canadian has not had the ideal lead-up to this match-up. With neither player likely to be willing to back off from the baseline, fans can expect some great shotmaking and the contest may well go down to the wire. If so, Fernandez's recent lack of match wins and confidence may come back to haunt her.
Prediction: Garcia to win in three sets
