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.

Federal looks far too injured to be playing. Surely not his first scratch?

Fed broken on his first serve.

His back will warm up till the end of this set.

Broken to love at that!

I reckon Stan just caught him cold though. His back will warm into the match... right?

Jahu wrote:His back will warm up till the end of this set.

They don't come out cold, certainly not with a bad back.

Federer doesn't have a serve.

bogbrush wrote:They don't come out cold, certainly not with a bad back.

Maybe most players don't, but Federer has always had a bit of a reputation for being blasé with his practice hasn't he? Probably thought he could get away with it against Stan, what with is 12-1 head-to-head record. Looks like he was probably right too. Breaks straight back.

Berdych wins 6-1 7-5!

Yay... more points for me... possibly into the top 1,000

EDIT: Dang. Not quite. 1058th.

He might beat Stan, mainly because of Stan. I can't believe it's realistic to play through a less important event with a duff back.

Beauty at work, both with SHBH, play looks so much fluid...ah the 80's..

Gasquet should have put up a better fight.

@BB... Federer's back still has issues.

laverfan wrote:Gasquet should have put up a better fight.

Agreed...I'm really disappointed about the result

I am also disappointed in how Stan is playing. How did he play that match against Djokovic?

Wawrinka's level nothing short of an embarrassment so far, gifting the match to a pretty ordinary Federer. Federer still hitting his first serves at over 120mph, so the back hasn't gone completely, but it does seem to be troubling him a little.

Wawrinka with 16 UEs in that set and just 7 winners, that's just awful...

@MfC... Federer's BH looks terrible, though.

It's Federer... Stan hasn't beaten him in 4 years. Lost 10 matches in a row; 8 of them in straight sets... and he was bagelled in the last set they played.

I think he was probably mentally defeated before he even walked on court.

Stan probably has more errors than points won.

Bring on Nadal-Gulbis, I say.

Tipsy with an Afro?

Berlocq breaks Murray?

Will Berlocq have his Rosol moment today?

Fed serving for the match, gets broken, 5:5

Berlocq has come out and as per his South American clay court credentials, has hit ball hard. The longer the match has went on, the more his radar seems to be going off though.

Federer will probably get broken now to give the set away.

Wawrinka has lost all 6 tie-breaks he's played against Federer.

Not this one.

So Nadal-Gulbis wait.

That was dreadful by Federer. He's being completely overpowered, where's the pop on his groundstrokes? Wawrinka is dominating the majority of the lengthy exchanges right now.

Berlocq serving for the first set.

It'd be a mercy for Federer to lose this, he'd get annihilated by 80% Nadal on this form.

The pop isn't there if the back can't be committed, in my opinion.

Stan, Stan, Stan...

Rog, Rog, Rog...

Both, Both, Both...

To be fair, he got himself out of that hole/

Murray getting pounded like a Argentinian steak. TB.

Get in there Stan!

Nooooo... stop it Stan!

I have Federer down for the final on my draw. Gonna lose soooo many points!

Good news for Murray's charge for #2 spot though I suppose. As long as Murray can beat Berlocq, which is far from a given right now...

Ah wow, didn't know about all the serve challenge fiasco in the Fed match... interesting.

well Murray has muddled his way through the first set, took a long time to get used to the court I felt, which is basically playing like clay it's so gritty. Also had a bit of a moan at the umpire about (I think) perceived on court coaching for Berlocq. odd match really...

You must be joking. Federer's been absolutely nowhere for most of the last two sets, and yet he now has match points.

...and takes one. Wow.

Fed takes it, somehow.

Good win for Fed.

I'm shocked, genuinely thought he was sunk based on the level of his play towards the end. I dread to think what's going to happen in the next round

@Red, looks like I was horribly wrong to place faith in Stan!

So the Roger-Rafa QF is still on.

And it looks like Rafa will crush him on current form.

(Now watch me eat my words when Gulbis beats Nadal!)

Wawrinka 4 from 17 at the net

Roger basically has a bye to the semis.
He will crush Gulbis or Nadal.

Was hoping Stan would beat him and send Fed home packing for a 2 months Holiday.

Could be a late finish tonight for Djokovic and Querrey. Nadal/Gulbis and Errani/Sharapova still to be played.