Indian Wells Tennis Picks 2014 (March 5th)

I can't be the only person that is still surprised that the first few days of the Masters/Premier Events are not televised, especially with the Tour providing pictures from all the lower events that take place during the course of the season.

The First Round of both the WTA and ATP tournaments are played before the television pictures are broadcast at the weekend, which will not make sense to me considering those matches take place on the main courts.

I have made a couple of outright picks from the WTA tournament which can be read here and I will be adding any picks from the ATP tournament before the First Round begins on Thursday.


There are a lot of First Round matches to be played in the WTA event today, but I can't say that I am overly fascinated by too many of the matches and only one pick will be made to start this tournament.


Heather Watson - 2.5 games v Belinda Bencic: After a long fight against an illness that derailed her push up the WTA Rankings, Heather Watson has at least shown some signs of recovery in 2014 and I believe she will be too good for the talented youngster Belinda Bencic.

Watson has had to win a couple of qualifying matches to come through to the main draw which will build her confidence especially as she has also won a Challenger tournament in recent weeks.

She is playing the 16 year old Bencic who has also won a lot of matches this year and has shown the talent that is expected to take her to the top of the women's game. She has recorded a big win over Alize Cornet already this year, but I think Watson's game is going to cause some problems.

The Brit gets a lot of balls back in play and that may frustrate Bencic and lead to mistakes which could prove to be the difference in what should be a close match. I am sure Bencic would love to reach her 17th birthday in five days time while still being in the Indian Wells draw, but Watson will have the edge in being used to the conditions and the slightly slower court that usually plays here should allow her to make enough balls back in play to eventually come through 63, 46, 64.

MY PICKS: Heather Watson - 2.5 Games @ 2.00 Paddy Power (2 Units)