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3/11/09 5:11 PM | Ricky Dimon
Novak Djokovic and Andy Roddick are in a tough section of the Indian Wells draw, but if they reach the quarterfinals, a rematch of quarterfinal showdowns at both the U.S. Open and the Australian Open will be in the cards.
If Novak Djokovic needed some cheering up after two straight-set losses in last weekend's Sebia-Spain Davis Cup tie (to David Ferrer and Rafael Nadal), he did not get it from the Indian Wells draw.
Djokovic is in arguably the toughest quarter of the BNP Paribas Open, the first Masters Series event of 2009. The good news for the world No. 3, however, is that it should be not be too difficult for him until the second week, so he will have time to make a smooth transition from the clay courts of Spain to the hard courts of Indian Wells, California.
After a first-round bye, Djokovic will open with either a qualifier or clay-court specialist Martin Vassallo Arguello. His nearest seed is No. 29 Rainer Schuettler, who has done nothing of note since a shock seminal appearance at Wimbledon last summer.
In the fourth round, however, it should start getting tricky. Potential opponent Radek Stepanek has won ATP titles in Brisbane and San Jose so far in 2009 and the Czech also came up big last weekend in Davis Cup. Stepanek, however, will most likely have to get past both Sam Querrey and Stanislas Wawrinka in order to set up a meeting with Djokovic.
The other half of Djokovic's quarter looks especially taxing. Prior to his Davis Cup win over Djokovic, Ferrer reached the Dubai final, where he fell to the Serb in straight sets. Ferrer has returned to stellar form after a dismal end to 2008. Andy Roddick, along with Stepanek, is one of the hottest players men's tennis right now. Under new coach Larry Stefanki, Roddick looks like a reborn player in 2009. He defeated Djokovic (by fourth-set retirement) to reach the Melbourne semis, captured a title in Memphis, and most recently won two singles rubbers in Davis Cup, both in straight sets (over Wawrinka and Marco Chiudinelli). Mardy Fish, who could clash with Ferrer in round three, finished runner-up to Stepanek in San Jose and won the Delray Beach title two weeks ago.
Only one thing is certain (almost) in this section of the draw: the quarterfinal match will feature two players currently in outstanding form.
Predictions: Fourth round - Djokovic over Stepanek and Roddick over Ferrer. Quarterfinals - Roddick over Stepanek.
Djokovic is the defending Indian Wells champion, having taken out Fish in last year's title match. Will he feel the pressure of defending so many ranking points, or will he feel right at home at a place that has been kind to him in the past (he also reached the final in 2007)? Either way, advancing through this section of the draw while not at his absolute best could be too much to ask. Roddick, on the other hand, is playing some of the best tennis of his career. Look for Roddick to advance and set up a semifinal encounter with Nadal.
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Interesting. Another tournament in 2009 he has to defend, and he draws Roddick. I'd say its a 50-50 and depends on Novak's form.
samprallica , 3/11/09 6:05 PM
would love to see Nole vs Rafa in SF this time on hc.
posmatrac , 3/11/09 8:30 PM
it would be a treat to see a nadal vs. djokovic semis! come to think of it, they played each other in the semis last year. maybe, history will repeat itself!
memi , 3/11/09 9:52 PM
Novak has a decent draw. And once again, Ricky I love your predictions. You guys all know what happens when Ricky predicts... Well I guess it is all up to Nole and his "controlled aggression". On a positive side, by my opinion, this is not a tough draw. Novak does not have to face: Tsonga, Murray, Simon, Del Potro, Cilic, Karlovic... (actually feel bad for the ones who do)
True Novak can face:
1. Stepanek or Wawrinka (he is in-form and he may even beat Stepanek; played a good game in the DC tie against USA and would not be suprised if he gives Stepanek a run for his money);
2. Than Rodick (he is also in-form but by my opinion overrated; ever since his win against Nole at the AO when Nole retired, he became popular, but we all know who is better from both wings... this time Nole will not have to face the Australian heat, he only has to face an overrated Rodick) or Ferrer (Nole is better than Ferrer on HC; proved it in Dubai and he was not even on his "A Game"); I believe Ferrer will give Rodick a run for his money!!!!!
So overall good draw. All he has to do is keep his cool, focus and let the racket do all the talking! The better he does at IW, the easier it is going to be in Miami, where he is not defending any points.....
arailic , 3/11/09 10:29 PM
This match will depend on roddick's form whether he comes out firing with a serve and forehand that hits through the court or if he plays passively and waits for his opponents errors. If he's aggressive and serves well, he will win. If he's passive, he loses.
sheila , 3/13/09 10:07 PM
IW SF's:
Safin vs Roddick Tsonga vs Federer
Safin is my sentimental pick - what the hell.....
tenisbebe , 3/13/09 11:57 PM
noleisthebest says:
Nole is the "King of concrete!"
Ha - we should get him a bowling shirt with that phrase plastered across the back. LOL
memi says:
"it would be a treat to see a nadal vs. djokovic semis! come to think of it, they played each other in the semis last year. maybe, history will repeat itself!"
They played in the IW final in 2007 - Nadal won. Then they met in the quarters a week later in Miami - Djoker won. Guess he didn't go out drinking at South Beach that year.
tenisbebe , 3/14/09 12:14 AM
They did play last year at IW semis too.
orion , 3/14/09 12:38 AM
orion, thanks for verifying my information! with indian wells and miami being back-to-back tournaments, sometimes it's easy to get confused when trying to recall who played whom and when!
memi , 3/14/09 3:47 AM
tenisbebe, I'm with you. It's Safin's last year after all.
GO MARAT!! :)
tenstar , 3/14/09 4:46 AM
tenstar:
I'm hoping..... GO MARAT!!
tenisbebe , 3/14/09 6:17 AM
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Nole will cruise to SF, has 60% to reach the final, and there show his true Tennis Tesla colours: King of concrete!
noleisthebest , 3/11/09 5:53 PM