Best Round 1 Matches at ATP Indian Wells Including Joao Fonseca vs Raphael Collignon
Atmane recently defeated Dimitrov in Acapulco and currently sits at a career-high ranking. The 24-year-old Frenchman is truly coming into his own heading into this tournament, boasting recent victories over both Dimitrov and Rafael Jodar in Mexico, which followed his first win of the season over Patrick Kypson in Delray Beach. Atmane is a talented shotmaker who spells trouble for Dimitrov, a player who is also creative with his ball striking.
Dimitrov will need to be on high upset alert here. He is off to a miserable 1-5 start to the season, making the joys we saw in 2025 (15-11 on the season) and 2024 (49-19) feel quite distant. While Dimitrov remains one of the most famous names in the sport, his current form is a major cause for concern. He turns 35 in May, and if his results don’t pick up, retirement may come sooner rather than later. Dimitrov recently told Puntodebreak that he needed to “change things in his game” as a result of his pectoral tear. He has also overhauled his coaching team, with David Nalbandian and Xavier Malisse now working with him. The winner of this match faces a nearly impossible second-round meeting against top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz.
Zachary Svajda vs Marin Cilic
Cilic, who recently surpassed all comers in Croatian tennis history by securing his 600th ATP win, is still going strong. His ranking was high enough to grant him direct entry into the BNP Paribas Open, and for his efforts, he draws American wildcard Zach Svajda in the first round.
Historically, Cilic has never taken well to the courts at Indian Wells. Even in his prime, the gritty surface was perhaps too slow for him to comfortably settle into his power game in the desert. On the other side of the net, the California-native Svajda will be full of belief. Now a top-100 player and the recent San Diego Challenger champion, he won’t have any hesitation heading into this match. Cilic’s form has cooled slightly since reaching the semifinals in Dallas and the third round at the Australian Open (where he upset Denis Shapovalov). Adding to the intrigue, Svajda upset Cilic on grass in a Challenger event last year, splitting their head-to-head meetings. Alejandro Davidovich Fokina awaits the winner.
Joao Fonseca vs Raphael Collignon
Fonseca previously won a Davis Cup match against Collignon, who arrives in the desert fresh off a Challenger Tour title in Pau. Collignon is aiming to break into the top 50 soon, but to do that, he needs to secure tour-level wins like this one. He holds a modest 13-17 career record at the tour level, but boasts a staggering 36-9 record on the Challenger Tour since 2025. He is the type of player who can expose Fonseca if Fonseca is still unfit.
Fonseca is hoping to find his footing after struggling to a 1-4 start this season. The Brazilian rising star did win the MGM Slam exhibition in Las Vegas, but he desperately needs that baseline talent to translate to official matches in California. Despite his higher ranking, this matchup won’t be easy for Fonseca. Karen Khachanov awaits the winner.