Indian Wells 2023: Holger Rune vs Mackenzie McDonald preview, head-to-head & prediction | BNP Paribas Open

Match Details

Fixture: (7) Holger Rune vs Mackenzie McDonald

Date: Saturday, March 11, 2023

Tournament: BNP Paribas Open

Round: Second round (Round of 64)

Venue: Indian Wells, California, USA

Category: ATP Masters 1000

Surface: Outdoor hardcourt

Prize money: $8,800,000

Live telecast: USA - Tennis Channel | UK - Amazon Prime Video

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Holger Rune vs Mackenzie McDonald preview

Rune is eyeing his first title of the year.

Seventh seed Holger Rune will open his Indian Wells campaign against American Mackenzie McDonald.

World No. 8 Rune has had a rather lukewarm start to the season after a strong end to 2022, beating Novak Djokovic for his first Masters 1000 title in Paris. The Danish teenager has won 11 of his 16 matches in 2023, including reaching two semifinals.

Rune squandered match points in a fourth-round loss to Andrey Rublev in the Australian Open fourth round. He returned to winning ways in the Davis Cup tie against India, winning both his matches. The World No. 8, who is 1-2 at Indian Wells, reached the last four in Montpellier and Acapulco as well as a Round of 16 exit in Rotterdam.

Meanwhile, the 53rd-ranked McDonald improved to 12-6 in 2023 with a straight-sets win over Filip Krajinovic. Earlier, the 27-year-old made the Round of 16 at Adelaide 1 and Adelaide 2 before stunning 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open second round.

McDonald, coming off a semifinal in Delray Beach and the last four in Acapulco, is 4-4 at Indian Wells.

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Holger Rune vs Mackenzie McDonald head-to-head

The two players haven't met before on the ATP Tour, so their H2H record stands at 0-0.

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Holger Rune vs Mackenzie McDonald odds

Player	Moneyline	Handicap Bets	Total games (over/under)
Holger Rune	-250	-3.5 (-120)	Over 21.5 (+!38)
Mackenzie McDonald	+200	+3.5 (-120)	Under 21.5 (-100)

Odds as per bet365.

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Holger Rune vs Mackenzie McDonald prediction

McDonald is into the second round at Indian Wells.

Both Rune and McDonald are quintessential baseliners, but the former takes the edge in terms of a better overall package.

The Danish teenager has a big serve and hits powerfully off either flank to go with his elite athleticism. McDonald, by contrast, has more modest attributes. He has done well on hardcourts this year, though, and could pose a challenge to his higher-ranked opponent.

Nevertheless, anything other than a Rune win will be a surprise as the Dane eyes his first title of the year in the Californian desert.

Prediction: Rune in straight sets.