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.

YGB, Djokovic lost a set vs Fognini.
I still think Djokovic is favourite here though, by quite a margin.

Fognini would beat them both too!!

yellowgoatboy wrote:Fognini would beat them both too!!

Well he managed to ensure these two reach the final of the French Open 2011. I see your point.

yellowgoatboy wrote:Fognini would beat them both too!!

Nadal would smash him to pieces. Federer would probably find a way to win even with the dodgy back.

would love to know what Federer is thinking now, is it "just keep this a contest" or does he still believe?

I suppose you can at least admire Roger for playing it out here.

Fed can't get a point unless he gets an ace

This could be a bagel

I think the Federer comeback could still be on.

Never thought I'd see the day where Federer's primary aim is to avoid the bagel!

Er, RG08 aside.

Would be nice for Fed to get a game wouldn't it...

So what, it's a practice session now......

I kind of wish he pulled out, must be hard to when theres so much excitement for this match

Fed's going to turn this around imo.

Federer playing very poorly indeed, if anything getting worse, reminiscent of his shocker in Miami against Rafa a couple of years back. Not worth waking up for so far.

So far this whole year he looks in decline.

CAS wrote:I kind of wish he pulled out, must be hard to when theres so much excitement for this match

Boo hoo, in WTF 2011 Nadal's had a shoulder strain, he stayed on till the end.

fed badly needs this game otherwise its done for me

Silver wrote:

yellowgoatboy wrote:Fognini would beat them both too!!

Nadal would smash him to pieces. Federer would probably find a way to win even with the dodgy back.

you seriously think Nadal's level in the first set was good? Don't think Nadal can beat Berdych unless he plays significantly better ...

15-30, Fed can break here.

Hey HB he is injured.

Break point Federer.

I agree YGH, I think Berdych beats the winner in straight sets anyway - said that before the tournament started. But you may be overestimating Fognini! I thought Nadal was decent in the first set, but nothing more.

Berdych is on brilliant form- he could win the whole tournament if he sorts his head out in the final.

BP Fed.

It's not the despair, I can take the despair. It's the hope I can't stand

Lol Nadal can't do that, he retrieved Feds half volley from the baseline!

Well, you can't say Fed doesn't have a touch of the warrior about him. Great effort...

Federer breaks, that turning point of the match.

That was generous of Nadal. Now all we need is a HE article saying what a pleasure it is to watch these two champions with the unique angles and shots they come up with only against each other and everything will be complete.

This is degenerating into farce....

Silver wrote:I agree YGH, I think Berdych beats the winner in straight sets anyway - said that before the tournament started. But you may be overestimating Fognini! I thought Nadal was decent in the first set, but nothing more.

Fognini can be very good or worse than my mother. I think you underestimate Nadal! He's better than this...

I'm just peed off that I waited up for their first match in a year, and get this

A bit better there from Roger, but still inconsistent.

I also had a slightly fancy for Berdych for the final before the tournament and this match is certainly supporting that.

The winner of this match will need to improve against Berdych for sure, unless Berdych bottles it.

I can live with that, he's showed some bottle.

What a laugh. Rafa bottlling it against a guy who has absolutely no sideways movement....

feels like every game Federer is down 0-15

Yeah, the lateral movement is definitely not there. A few points ago when he lobbed one up under pressure, Federer actually wheeled around in a wide arc rather than turn sharply, so his rotation is presumably compromised. He's also not bending on his volleys or committing to groundstrokes.

That said, Rafa is doing what he needs to and getting the job done, albeit looking underwhelming himself right now. He can't help if Fed's not playing well.

if it wasn't nadal & federer playing, but two guys ranked 100 odd, we'd be saying how poor it is!

At least it will be over soon. This is the first match I've watched in ages. It would be nice to have seen Feds talent triumph but there's at least been some shadows of what he was and it's cool to see him using what he can to make the inroads he has.

yellowgoatboy wrote:Fognini can be very good or worse than my mother. I think you underestimate Nadal! He's better than this...

I'm just peed off that I waited up for their first match in a year, and get this

I understand don't worry, hopefully Federer will go away after this match, put in the hard miles after some rest and come back refreshed and fully mobile.

YGB- Nadal hasn't played that badly in the second set (bar the two game spell at 3-0).

Not so sure myself about this supposed injury. If it's his back, why is his serve still OK and the rest of his game so poor today? He does seem a bit slow at chasing down balls, very poor defence, looked like 5 or 6 he should have got to just couldn't or almost let by. Anyway, I think he will be asked in the press conference and I think if he was hampered he may say so.

regret staying up for this

Rafa asked Federer at the net, Hows your back? says a lot

Is that what he said? I just heard Federer replying that he was OK.

Pity I guess no one reminded Fed of the H2H before the match.

Well done Rafa. As a Federer fan, I don't want to take anything away from him whatsoever - it was a composed performance by Nadal, and I'm pleased to see him back and moving well. Congrats to his supporters too

Red wrote:YGB- Nadal hasn't played that badly in the second set (bar the two game spell at 3-0).

Think it's difficult to judge him on the 2nd set, he knows it's no contest so is just going through the motions and probably not really able to concentrate properly.

No celebration from Nadal. Asked RF "How's your back?". RF replied "I'm okay".

yeah, just watched it back a few times, he definitely asks him

MATAAAADOOOOOORRRRRRRRRRRRRRR