Donna Vekic faces Elina Avanesyan while Elise Mertens takes on Kimberly Birrell in second action at the WTA Indian Wells Open 2025 on Saturday, March 8. Here’s the preview, predictions and tips for these matches from Indian Wells.
Looking to Watch & Bet on the WTA Indian Wells Open Live Streaming Online?
- For tennis fans in the Europe & elsewhere go to bet365 > Tennis > Live Streaming here* to watch & bet on the ATP & WTA tennis live.
*Live streaming T&Cs: You can watch live sport on your mobile, tablet or desktop including Soccer, Tennis and Basketball. All you need is a funded account or to have placed a bet in the last 24 hours to qualify. Geo-restrictions apply.
Donna Vekic v Elina Avanesyan Preview
Head-to-Head: Their only previous meeting came in Berlin in 2023 and Vekic had won that in straight sets.
Donna Vekic has a surprisingly poor record at the Indian Wells Open where she has played nine times in the past and never once has she made it past the second round.
This could be another chance she has but Vekic is also coming into this tournament on the back of four successive defeats.
Making this slightly puzzling is the fact that Vekic looked to have started off well having reached the fourth round at the Australian Open but then went down to Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova there. From that point onward, Vekic has lost in the first round in Doha, Dubai and Merida.
She has a tough challenge in the form of Elina Avanesyan in her second round match here, having earned an opening bye. For starters, Avaneysan is coming off a straight-set win over Lauren Davis in the first round but more vitally her form all season has been top notch.
Third round at Brisbane, semifinal in Hobart and a semifinal appearance in Merida last weeks have all contributed to her ranking rising to 39th in the world, a career-best. She could prove to be a handful for Vekic.
Vekic v Avanesyan prediction: Vekic to win: 3/4
- Get all the remaining tennis betting tips and predictions of the day here
- Get all the remaining Indian Wells Open 2025 betting information here
- Also read what’s a Tennis Betting Accumulator here
Elise Mertens v Kimberly Birrell Preview
Head-to-Head: Before this they have faced off just once before and Birrell had won that 2024 Osaka Open match in three sets.
Having made the fourth round in this competition last year, Elise Mertens will be eyeing that same spot this year too as the world number 28 looks to continue with her good form for the season.
With a title already under a belt to go with a finals spot in Hobart, Mertens is coming off a third round appearance at Doha and a second round exit in Dubai.
Her losses this year, however, have mostly come at the hands of top 20 players – Jessica Pegula, Ekaterina Alexandrova and Paula Badosa have beaten her in three of the four she has lost.
Which is why overcoming Kimberly Birrell, a qualifier ranked 76th in the world, might not be that big a deal for Mertens.
Birrell, who had overcome Kristina Penickova and Cristina Bucsa in her qualifiers, defeated Viktorija Golubic in her three consecutive straight-set win. Can she put up a fight against Mertens?
Mertens v Birrell prediction: Over 20.5 games in the match: 5/6
