Ugo Humbert is one player who will definitely be hoping that the courts quicken up a bit this year: the Frenchman has never gone beyond the 3rd round here.
2025 ATP Tour
Masters 1000
Indian Wells Masters
Indian Wells Tennis Garden, California (Outdoor Hardcourt)
Selected Round of 64 Matches- 7th March
Ugo Humbert (18) 0.37 vs Kei Nishikori 2.05
The big-serving lefty has been one of the most consistent hardcourt players in the world these past 18 months or so. He reached four
hardcourt finals last year, winning the ATP 500 event in Dubai while finishing runner-up in his maiden Masters 1000 final in Paris. The lanky Frenchman enjoyed a positive start to his 2025 campaign, reaching the 4th round of the Aussie Open before defending his Marseille crown. He withdrew from Doha (no doubt still enjoying the fruits of his Marseille success). He was then surprised in Dubai, with the indefatigable Tallon Griekspoor beating him in three sets. Humbert is an aggressive front-foot player who loves to finish points at the net. He would love it if the courts do show a little more zip.
You must admire the gumption of 35-year-old former US Open finalist Kei Nishikori. His career has been ravaged by injury, but he has still managed to get himself back into some semblance of form. He enjoyed a strong end to his 2024 campaign, reaching his first Masters quarterfinal in five years at the National Bank Open. He won a Challenger event and seemed to carry some of those vibes into this season, reaching his first ATP Tour final in six years in Hong Kong (he would lose in the final). He has gone off the boil since then, losing back-to-back first-round matches in Dallas and Delray Beach. His first-round match was a typically pugnacious affair, as he held off Spainard Jaume Munar in three sets. Nishikori has played well here in the past, reaching back-to-back quarterfinals in 2016 and 2017.
The Verdict: Humbert to win in straight-sets at 0.98- This will be their first career meeting. I think that Humbert is going to run through the Japanese veteran (regardless of how quick the courts play). He is electrifying on hardcourts of late and Nishikori seems to have lost some spark since a promising start to the campaign.
