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.

lydian wrote:Without 1st serve Raonic is not the same player at all.
He's being Cilic Bang'ed here.

Oh very good, JHM would be proud of that one.

laverfan wrote:Tsonga will lose the TB by a very tiny margin.

Absolutely horrible prediction skills, Laver. Shame on you.

laverfan wrote:

laverfan wrote:Tsonga will lose the TB by a very tiny margin.

Absolutely horrible prediction skills, Laver. Shame on you.

To be fair you only got one word wrong LF

Tsonga seems to have woken up - back on serve in the second.

More breaks than a putt at Augusta. Fish had the chance to serve out the set but couldn't take it! Now he's serving to take it to a tiebreak...

Well done Raonic

Just noticed that Almagro drops to #12 unless he wins today.

Quite simply Fish ran out of gas. From midway in the 2nd set his serve suddenly lost 15mph...it was in the 90s temp today and this is his 1st tournie back - not a bad showing really.

Did anyone see the discussion Fish had with the umpire about going over 25 seconds between points?

The umpire said to Fish at change of ends that he was going over the time limit. According to the rules Fish should have received an official warning the first time he went over 25 seconds so why was Fish getting special treatment?

Anyway Fish complained about being told this by the Umpire. The Umpire retaliated by saying I'm only doing what you guys voted me to do. Fish said that he didn't vote for any such thing. He then said he had a heart condition...

Ha ha! I'm not sure who was more irritated by the new rule Fish or the Umpire.

The decision to watch court 3 has been vindicated

Haas squandered a BP has a massive rant. Maggy squanders game point and rants louder another BP Haas in the 3rd.

Some sterling stuff out on Court 3. Still on serve in the 3rd.

Djokovic starting his match against Dmitrov like Murray started his against Donskoy.

Dimitrov is starting to click together now...been a few years but he's definitely getting better.

Djoko geting kicked like a mule from Dimitrov. Go Dimitrov go.

Jahu- could to see you back on here

Almagro fuming over his 8th footfault. By 5 different judges. He DF's.

Red:

Seriously, Dimitrov is hiting some nice shots, Djoko seems to have been scared by last nights earthquake in Cali.

BP for Maggy

Djokovic will win this in 3 I feel.

btw Jahu I am Amritia (aka the evil Kneedull fan lol)

Dimi playing well here.

Haas finds the net with a FH and smashes the hell out of his racquet and now Haas is berrating the umpire about something.

Maggy breaks and will serve for the match

Good stuff from Dimitrov so far. Playing with no fear and attacking the net.

Wish Murray would do the latter a bit more against Novak.

Djokovic gets 2 break points after 3 DF's from Dimitrov.

Haas saves MP with a brilliant drop shot followed by a FH

BP for Haas!!

Sad to see Cilic lose from that horse faced giant. Will miss Fish too.

Red, greets

can you believe it?!?!?! Dimitrov serves FOUR doubles faults when serving for the set. I don't know what to say

Good grief... Ultra choke there from Dimi.

4 double faults!!

Novak would have broken if he'd stayed in his seat !!!!

A BH war sees the BP gone

Another BP for Haas!!

Haas breaks with a corker of a CCFH!!!

Frak Djokovic and Dimi!!

This match is a belter 5-5 in the 3rd.

Dimi running out of puff.

well that was entirely predictable, El Mug broken when serving for the match though he really should have taken that MP after an ordinary Haas drop shot...

Why couldn't he have done this 5 minutes ago?

a lot easier to play well when behind or on level terms, a lot harder to keep swinging freely with no tension when the stakes are high. He did a similar thing vs Murray in the Brisbane final did he not? played a great first three games, looked untroubled until he served for the set and was promptly broken. He'll learn...

Haas comes up with some big points there at 15-30 down.

Maggy to serve to take us to a TB.

El Mug serving to stay in the match...

Oh what a SHBH, go on boy, take the set on his serve.

Maggy with a trouble free service game. How he would've given for that a couple of games ago. TB time.

Dimitrov starts the TB with... a DF

Whoa now that was a choke by Maggy dumping a FH into the net. Haas mini break 2-1

shocking TB from Dimitrov, he's completely gone mentally.

How to lose a set in 6 minutes, by Grigor Dimitrov!

Haas 4-2 up on the change of ends.

legendkillarV2 wrote:Whoa now that was a choke by Maggy dumping a FH into the net. Haas mini break 2-1

a choke? by El Mug? you surprise me

Haas 5-2 gets the mini double break.

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:Whoa now that was a choke by Maggy dumping a FH into the net. Haas mini break 2-1

a choke? by El Mug? you surprise me

It was the tighest FH I have seen this year!

Haas takes the match with 2 aces!!

Not a classic match, but both players seemed agitated throughout the match. Be interested to hear what Haas was saying to the umpire during the change of ends at 5-4 in the 3rd

Stunning sportsmanship from Djoker.

say what you like about Djokovic, but that was a classy concession of a point. The right decision, but can't think of many (any?) other players who would have done that

Still takes the first set though, and think Dimitrov will fade from now on...

Great sportsmanship from Novak.

6 DF's!!

WTA standard!

legendkillarV2 wrote:

Mad for Chelsea wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:Whoa now that was a choke by Maggy dumping a FH into the net. Haas mini break 2-1

a choke? by El Mug? you surprise me

It was the tighest FH I have seen this year!

true, even by El Mug's epic choking standards that was a really awful miss. Have to applaud Haas for the turn around though, took his chance superbly on the BP at 4-5. How Almagro will rue his easy FH on MP where he hit the ball straight at Haas.