Tennis in Indian Wells

Sebastian Ofner expects a duel at eye level

Sebastian Ofner has to play a Croatian

(Bild: APA/AFP/Peter PARKS)

Sebastian Ofner meets Borna Coric for the first time at the start of the ATP Masters1000 tournament. A match at eye level is expected. Meanwhile, Yuri Rodionov is fighting for a place in the main competition in the second qualifying round. 

Sebastian Ofner will be up against the Croatian Borna Coric at the start of the ATP Masters1000 tournament in Indian Wells. It will be the pair's first duel on the tennis tour. According to the world rankings, the clash between the 38th-ranked player from Styria and the 35th-ranked player is expected to be a match of equals.

Austria's number one, who was last eliminated in the round of 16 in Acapulco, is competing for the first time at the US hard-court event with prize money of more than 12 million dollars.

Rodionov against US-American
Both players are 27 years old, and the winner will face the German Jan-Lennard Struff, who was given a bye in the opening round and is ranked 25th in the world.

Jurij Rodionov has to fight his way into the main competition. The 24-year-old ÖTV player made short work of the Italian Federico Gaio 6:1, 6:2 in the first qualifying round on Monday. In the night to Wednesday, the 24-year-old, who is seeded sixth, will face the American Nicolas Moreno de Alboran in the battle for a place in the first main round.