Indian Wells Day 9 (MOTD: Murray vs Del Potro)

First topic message reminder :

It's time for the first MS1000 of the year! Red and I will be updating the opening post each day with previews of matches that catch the eye, as well as completed results and draws once the tournament moves along a little. If anyone wants to contribute, please do shoot one of us a PM!

96 players are in action with 32 seeds getting a bye into the second round, meaning that as Cogen highlighted, this is the first event since Wimbledon 2011 (at least) where all of the top players in the world are in action. A few of the narratives are the possibility that Federer could be overhauled by Murray at #2, Djokovic looking to continue his unbeaten start to the season, Nadal's triumphant return to hard courts, and numerous other players in reasonable nick - can they challenge for the title, or at least create a few upsets?

Prize: A cool $1 million ($5.4 million purse), and the invaluable 1000 ranking points.
Defending champion is Roger Federer, who defeated John Isner in the 2012 final.
Updated draw on the ATP site.

Preview from Red:


Andy Murray is on the hunt for his maiden Indian Wells title. He has reached the quarter final here, for the first time since he reached the final in 2009, but has a tough task to complete if he is to get his hands on the trophy. He is up against Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro in the quarters today, and if he gets through that he can potentially face Djokovic and Nadal in the next two rounds. In his Round 4 match Murray was not at his best, and looked irritated at the end of his tight 2 set win against Berlocq. Berlocq complained that Murray was taking too long between points, Murray complained that Berlocq was grunting too loudly, and well... I think Berlocq is not on Andy's Christmas card list anymore. With the world number 2 ranking potentially on the line if he reaches the final, Murray fans will be hoping a dismissal of Del Potro will help lighten his mood.

Juan Martin Del Potro has never won a Masters 100 title before. Will this be the week he breaks his duck? He has been on good form so far this tournament, an improvement to his relatively mediocre start to 2013. However he has not yet been tested, and with all respects to Bjorn Phau, a fixture against Andy Murray will be a real step up. In Dubai Del Potro tested Djokovic in both sets, but mentally let himself down in the key moments. Will the same happen here against the Scot? The Argentinian's record against Murray isn't great, and he will have to raise his game if he wants to have a chance of winning.

Key Tactics: Murray has a convincing 5-1 lead over Del Potro in the H2H, with Juan's only win coming on clay in 2009. Murray won the last two matches these two played (also both in 2009), and he will fancy himself to continue this run of wins and extend it today. For Del Potro to win, he must be extremely aggressive, in longer rallies Murray will coast. The higher bounce of the surface should suit Del Potro, as Murray's tactic of the low slice which has worked so well against him will be negated. Thus the onus is on Del Potro to force the play, and big serving and aggressive hitting will be his only chance of winning.

Predictions: I think Murray has too much variety and nous for Del Potro, I see the 2012 USO champion winning in straight sets: 6-3 6-4.

Currently trending on twitter that Foggy is nursing a leg muscle injury and might be forced to withdraw.

lags72 wrote:Currently trending on twitter that Foggy is nursing a leg muscle injury and might be forced to withdraw.

PMSL

It's reat to see Mardy Fish back in action!!

The not-so-special Juan currently imploding against Matosevic. Serving for the set at 5-4, he's currently 7-5 3-0 down.

He and Tipsy are my two to plummet down the rankings this season. There's always one or two who surge up the rankings one year before falling way down the next.

Gulbis pretty much routed Tipsy. Both him and Rishaard Gask-ey are going to impress this year. Bookmark that!

I personally think Blake-Tsonga will be more fun than any other match on today

Fish and Chardy currently down a break as well in their 3rd sets. One wonders whether the bye is actually more of a hinderance than a help.

Fish gets out of jail. Reynolds folds.

Get yer money on Donskoy

laverfan wrote:Fish gets out of jail. Reynolds folds.

Fish winning ruined my 'Fish tanks' joke.

Are you Ferrer, are you Ferrer, are you Ferrer in disguise!? Are you Ferrer in disguise!?

LOL

Murray

I assumed Murray's perennial poor performance at IW was due to emotional turmoil because of heartbreaking failure to breakthrough at that years AO...

But maybe he's destined to always play terrible at this tournament!

Because this is bloody awful!

Fear not, Andy fans. Donskoy will psychologically crumble at some point.

And somehow it is back on serve!

There's only one David Ferrer! One David Ferrer! Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Ferrer wonderland!

HM Murdoch wrote:Fear not, Andy fans. Donskoy will psychologically crumble at some point.

Right on cue. The moment these lower players have to serve for a set against the big guys is the moment they fall apart.

The Special Juan wrote:There's only one David Ferrer! One David Ferrer! Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Ferrer wonderland!

I can't say Juan Monaco without breaking into the tune of "Sweet Caroline"

ryan86 wrote:

The Special Juan wrote:There's only one David Ferrer! One David Ferrer! Walking along, singing a song, walking in a Ferrer wonderland!

I can't say Juan Monaco without breaking into the tune of "Sweet Caroline"

Juan Monaco-oh-oh-oh!

I see what you mean!!

Donskoy breaks to take the 1st set 7-5.

Uh oh. Just got home and what do I see? Donskoy-Murray should have clearly been the MOTD. What have you all been thinking?

Come on Andy, there's a possible chance for revenge in the next round.

Monaco and Chardy both gone, and Murray down a set? This is a shambles. I do wonder whether there's something in ryan86's comment on the bye being problematic rather than an advantage.

summerblues, we kind of assumed he'd walk it with ease...misjudgement by us, perhaps! We shall see.

summerblues wrote:Uh oh. Just got home and what do I see? Donskoy-Murray should have clearly been the MOTD. What have you all been thinking?

SB, neither me nor Silver thought this match would be competitive...

Given Murray's Indian Wells record, we thought Donskoy would have won within an hour.

Have we found ´Russia´s answer to Lucas Rosol

Two others seeds in Murray's Section are down a set as well (Klizan & Dolgopolov)

btw if anyone wants a live link of any of the matches, drop me a PM

Del Potro serving first in our MOTD...

He's saved 9 of 11 break points so far, so his nerves seem pretty good, but he's clearly being tested on serve judging by the stats. Impressive for a guy who's lost more matches than he's won this year, though!

Silver wrote:He's saved 9 of 11 break points so far, so his nerves seem pretty good, but he's clearly being tested on serve judging by the stats. Impressive for a guy who's lost more matches than he's won this year, though!

You want a link?
I've got a HD link

Red wrote:SB, neither me nor Silver thought this match would be competitive...

I was obviously kidding.

Certainly would not have imagined this. Then again, watching the last three games gave me the impression of a stand-out player playing against a middling journeyman, except that I think the two mixed themselves up.

summerblues wrote:

Red wrote:SB, neither me nor Silver thought this match would be competitive...

I was obviously kidding.

Read the rest of my post, I was kidding too

Murray's gonna get ya

...and now we finally see why he is barely in top 100

Donsk misses a simply put away volley to give Andy the break.

Davydenko breaks del Potro straight away in the MOTD.

Elsewhere, Berlocq saves a set point against Dolgo, and Davydenko breaks in the opening game.

ryan86 wrote:Davydenko breaks del Potro straight away in the MOTD.

Yep... but now Del P has 0-30.

Murray starting to gain control here... I'm switching to Del P vs Davydenko

I could see this being 6-2 6-1 now in the Murray match.

Yeah, looks like he might run away with it unless Donskoy is saving something for later. Davy hangs in there for 2-0!

Klizan in danger against Lu, into the second set TB and down a mini-break already.

Come on Lu!!

Davydenko making a mockery of my prediction here...

Already 2-0 up.

Donskoy Murray now looking more normal.

Lu three points away from the upset, Dolgo needs to win this tiebreak to stay alive...

Edit: Wow, Klizan dumped out 7-6, 7-6.

Lu!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

You say upset, but in the betting they had Lu as a 4/6 favourite

Great win for Lu

JMDP restoring normality by getting back on serve, and Mr. Dolgopolov has decided to extend his time on court, taking his match to a deciding set...