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  • Indian Wells: Fourth Quarter Preview

    3/14/08 2:05 AM | Cheryl Murray
    - If Rafael Nadal was hoping for a little help from the draw gods in Indian Wells, he was surely disappointed. The bottom quarter of the draw is rife with danger for the defending champion.

    He has a potential third round match up with his friend and fellow Spaniard Feliciano Lopez. Last year at this time, Lopez was known more for his pretty looks and inconsistent results than anything else, but since hooking up with coach Albert Costa, he has become a threat. He outplayed Roger Federer for a set and a half at the US Open last year and actually picked his way through the minefield that was the draw in Dubai last week, eventually losing to Andy Roddick in the finals. Lopez's big serve could trouble Nadal, but he still has serious issues with his backhand and Nadal's lefty forehand combined with the high bouncing court will expose that weakness over the course of a match.

    Also looming in Nadal's quarter is one of the biggest “Rafa-killers” of them all - James Blake. Nadal has not managed to beat Blake in three tries. Blake has a potential third round match with another Spaniard, the perma-young Carlos Moya, who has had a fantastic season on clay so far in 2008. Moya is not as susceptible to the hard, flat hitting of Blake as Nadal, and Blake could very well have a fight on his hands.

    Also possibly waiting for Nadal in the round of 16 is the man who dashed his hopes in the Australian Open - Jo Wilifred Tsonga. The surface at the Pacific Life Open will not be as conducive to the young Frenchman's game; it is slower than the courts in Melbourne and will neutralize some of the bite of his shots. Still he is certainly dangerous and one to watch in this section of the draw. His compatriot, Richard Gasquet, will also be fighting through this very difficult quarter. His second round opponent will be either Sebastian Grosjean or the very dangerous Swede Robin Söderling. Given the quality of either opponent, few would be truly surprised to see Gasquet make an early exit.

    Not only are the seeds strong in the bottom quarter, there are some dangerous floaters as well. Canadian up-and-comer Frank Dancevic has already had some hard court success, and will be looking to make his mark at a Masters Series event. American Robby Ginepri, who needed a wildcard to get into the tournament, has advanced to three successive hard court semifinals leading up to The Pacific Life Open and should definitely be taken seriously. One thing is for certain; whichever player makes it out of this quarter will have worked for it.

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