Article

• Indian Wells draw: Nadal, Federer dealt even hands

  3/11/09 2:54 AM | Ricky Dimon
  The Indian Wells title is up for grabs--at least among a select few--after an apparently even draw throughout all four quarters of the tournament was revealed on Tuesday.
  
  Rafael Nadal and Roger Federer, both returning from recent physical problems, appear to have similar paths through the Masters Series Indian Wells tournament after the BNP Paribas Open draw came out on Tuesday afternoon.
  
  Nadal, who aggravated a knee injury in a Rotterdam loss to Andy Murray but bounced back to win two singles rubbers in Davis Cup play last weekend, is the top seed as the No. 1 player in the world. He will be a heavy favorite against anyone in his quarter of the draw, but at the same time he is in a section loaded with explosive talents. Either David Nalbandian or Tomas Berdych, who combine for a 5-4 record against Nadal, could present problems in the fourth round. Sixth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro is a potential quarterfinal opponent for the Spaniard, but he could get bounced early if either Gael Monfils or Marat Safin gets hot.
  
  Federer's draw looks tough--but far from impossible--throughout. The world No. 2 could face Ivo Karlovic, who knocked him out in Cincinnati last summer, in the third round. James Blake, who stunned Federer at the 2008 Olympics, or Fernando Gonzalez are capable of a fourth-round upset if they are enjoying one of those days in which they go for broke with almost every shot and rarely miss. Nikolay Davydenko has only played two tournaments in 2009 due to a foot injury, so Fernando Verdasco--who has not taken the court since the Australian Open--is Federer's most likely quarterfinal opponent. Verdasco is a new player after last season's Davis Cup heroics and a rigorous off-season training program and he showed it with a semifinal performance Down Under.
  
  Murray, the No. 4 seed, is on a collision course with Federer for the semifinals. He, too, is dealing with his own issues, having been sidelined from Dubai and Davis Cup with a bad virus. The good news for Murray, however, is that he should be able to cruise into the second week of the tournament with no apparent danger until the fourth round. That's when the Scot could run into 20-year-old Marin Cilic, who already owns two ATP titles this season. One of two Frenchman--either Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or Gilles Simon--could be trouble in the quarterfinals. Murray, for sure, hopes that it will be Simon and not Tsonga.
  
  Novak Djokovic is Nadal's semifinal opponent if the tournament plays out according to seed. The chances of that happening in every single section, however, appear slim; especially given the difficulty of Djokovic's quarter. Radek Stepanek, who has won ATP titles in Brisbane and San Jose so far in 2009 and also came up big last weekend in Davis Cup, could send Djokovic packing in the fourth round. If the Serb survives to reach the quarterfinals, it will probably become even more taxing for him at that point. Both David Ferrer, who lost to Djokovic in the Dubai final but beat him in straight sets on clay in Davis Cup, and an in-form Andy Roddick are potential quarterfinal opponents. Roddick, who defeated Djokovic (by fourth-set retirement) in Melbourne, recently secured a title in Memphis and won two Davis Cup rubbers against Switzerland last weekend.
  
  Djokovic is the defending Indian Wells champion and he also reached the final a year earlier. Nadal has done no worse than semifinal appearances in thee of his four trips to Indian Wells and he won the title in 2007. Federer won three straight Indian Wells titles between 2004 and 2006 but he has failed to reach the final in each of the past two seasons. Murray has been to Indian Wells three times and made it to the semifinals in 2007, but went out early in both 2006 and 2008.
  
  
  
  

Tell a friend »

Comments

Write comment

Unibet Mobile prematch,live betting

Scan QR code to access Unibet mobile.
Bet on Sports wherever you are and whenever you like, with Unibet's quick and simple mobile client you can place bets, check results and see live odds.
 For more info about QR codes & scanners click here.

Recommend Tennistalk

Follow us

Poll

Articles - Latest commented

• 
  25

  USA finishes off Federer, Switzerland
  

  nadline, Feb 12, 2012 4:01 PM

• 
  7

  Defending champ Spain through to Davis Cup quarters
  

  schatz, Feb 12, 2012 11:44 AM

• 
  2

  Gonzo calls time on his career
  

  luckystar, Feb 12, 2012 12:59 AM

• 
  17

  Isner stuns Federer, gives USA shocking 2-0 Davis Cup lead
  

  msj9754, Feb 11, 2012 11:47 PM

• 
  5

  Argentina faces Germany in Davis Cup opener
  

  RickyDimon, Feb 11, 2012 7:32 PM

Blog - Latest commented

• 
  3
  Approach Shots: Federer looks to rebound in Rotterdam
  

  sanju, Feb 12, 2012 5:56 PM

• 
  9
  Approach Shots: Federer headlines Davis Cup first round
  

  nadline, Feb 11, 2012 4:57 PM

• 
  113
  Djokovic and Nadal’s Aussie Open final, the best tennis has to offer
  

  Nativenewyorker, Feb 11, 2012 9:08 AM

Tell a friend

Other tennis links

• www.menstennisforums.com
• Tennisplaza
• www.atptennis.com
• www.itftennis.com
• More links...