The BNP Paribas Open is heating up, with the third round featuring several exciting matchups set to take center stage on Sunday. Among them is a thrilling all-American clash between Ben Shelton and Learner Tien, while Tommy Paul faces off against unseeded Joao Fonseca.
In the contest between Tommy Paul and Joao Fonseca, the unseeded Brazilian has been on an upward trajectory after overcoming a back injury that hindered his season early on. Fonseca, currently ranked No. 35 in the world, demonstrated resilience in his opening matches, triumphing over Raphael Collignon with a score of 7-6(2), 6-4 and then rallying past Karen Khachanov 4-6, 7-6(7), 6-4, saving two match points along the way. With momentum on his side, Fonseca is gearing up for an encounter against Paul, who previously outpaced him in their only meeting last year, winning in straight sets.
Paul, currently ranked No. 23, has had a notable start to the season with 12 match victories and a runner-up finish at the Delray Beach tournament. He recently secured an impressive win over Zizou Bergs, dominating the match 6-1, 6-2. Considering his experience, form, and the advantage of being well-rested, Paul is favored to win this contest.
Moving to the matchup between Ben Shelton and Learner Tien, Shelton is looking to bounce back after a taxing first-round battle. The 23-year-old battled through illness during his match against Reilly Opelka but managed to secure a hard-fought victory, taking it 6-7(3), 7-6(4), 6-3. With an impressive start to 2026, including a quarterfinal appearance at the Australian Open and an ATP 500 title in Dallas, he has elevated his ranking to No. 8.
Shelton faces a formidable opponent in Tien, who, at just 20 years old, has raced up to No. 27 in the ATP rankings. Tien is fresh off a strong showing in his previous tournaments, reaching the quarterfinals in Melbourne and the semifinals in Delray Beach. He claimed his place in the third round by defeating Adam Walton in straight sets. Their prior encounter ended with Tien taking the win in Mallorca, adding an extra layer of intensity to this matchup.
With Shelton’s health still in question and Tien’s current form, the contest promises to be tightly contested. Both matches are eagerly anticipated as players aim to secure their spots in the tournament’s next stage, making for an exciting day of tennis at Indian Wells.
