Prossimo articoloTwo bodies, two different questions: what Berrettini-Zverev tells us

TIE-BREAKFAST - 03/05 Indian Wells

Tie-BreakfastMar 5Mar 5, 20265 min

Good morning and welcome back to TIE-Breakfast.

Ace Cream's morning briefing that tells you everything you need to know before starting your day.

Today is Thursday, March 5, in Indian Wells it's 11:30 PM and it's 17 degrees. Alright, let's go.

Today at breakfast

🇮🇹 Berrettini comes back against Mannarino on debut, with Enqvist in the box
🇨🇦 Shapovalov eliminates Tsitsipas in three sets
🇫🇷 Monfils wins at his final Indian Wells
🇰🇿 Putintseva ousts Badosa, 2021 champion
🇮🇹 Bellucci out, Arnaldi on court today

WHAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT:

🇮🇹 Berrettini Comes Back Against Mannarino With Enqvist In The Box

Matteo Berrettini beat Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 7-5, 7-5 in the first round of the BNP Paribas Open, coming back after dropping the first set. A victory that comes on his debut with new coach Thomas Enqvist, former world number 4, who officially joined the team starting from Indian Wells.

The way this victory came together tells a story that goes beyond a simple first-round win. Berrettini had never beaten Mannarino in two previous meetings, and the Frenchman had never dropped a set against him. Losing the first set and finding a way to turn the match around, on a court that has historically given him little, is the kind of signal that matters more than a straightforward win. His next opponent will be Alexander Zverev, fourth seed: a completely different level of test.

🇨🇦 Shapovalov Eliminates Tsitsipas In Three Sets

Denis Shapovalov beat Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 in the most anticipated first-round match, confirming his dominance in the head-to-head against the Greek on hard court, where he remains unbeaten.

Tsitsipas has slipped to number 43 in the rankings, his lowest position since 2018. More than the loss itself, what strikes is the sense of a player struggling to find the thread of his game, especially in the moments that count. Shapovalov, for his part, continues to show flashes of the talent that once took him to the Wimbledon semi-final, even if consistency remains the question mark of his season.

🇫🇷 Monfils Wins At His Final Indian Wells

Gael Monfils beat Alexis Galarneau 6-3, 6-4 in his sixteenth and final appearance at the BNP Paribas Open. The Frenchman, thirty-nine years old, has announced that 2026 will be his last professional season.

It's hard not to notice the way the Indian Wells crowd welcomed him, aware that this is a farewell. Monfils no longer has the pace of his best years, but his ability to fill a court with his presence remains something unique on tour. The next round will see him face Felix Auger-Aliassime, ninth seed: a generational handoff that carries its own meaning, regardless of the result.

🇰🇿 Putintseva Ousts Badosa In The First Round

Yulia Putintseva beat Paula Badosa 6-4, 6-2 in one hour and twenty-three minutes, eliminating the 2021 champion in the first round. Badosa committed 47 unforced errors, including 10 double faults, and her season record dropped to 3 wins and 6 losses.

For Putintseva, it's the first completed victory in six meetings against the Spaniard, a stat that tells you how far from inevitable this result was. Badosa, returning from an adductor injury, still seems to be in a phase where her body and her game aren't moving at the same speed.

🇮🇹 Bellucci Eliminated By Diallo

Mattia Bellucci was eliminated by Gabriel Diallo 7-6(5), 6-4 in the first round. The Italian, who came off a quarterfinal run in Acapulco, was unable to replicate the level he showed in Mexico.

WHAT'S ON TODAY:

Arnaldi vs McDonald - The only Italian on court today in the main draw. Matteo Arnaldi faces qualifier Mackenzie McDonald, with the winner meeting 27th seed Cameron Norrie in the second round.
ATP first round (top half of the draw) - The men's first round wraps up with the top half of the draw, the one leading towards Carlos Alcaraz, unbeaten in 2026 with a 12-0 record. The world number one will make his debut on Saturday.
WTA first round (continues) - The women's first round continues. Worth watching is Venus Williams, who at forty-five years old will become the oldest player to compete in singles in the tournament's history.
Casper Ruud guest at Tennis Talk - The Scandinavian will be the star of the "Tennis Talk" evening event at 8:00 PM local time, before his tournament debut.