Unlike the women’s draw which has some notable absences, the men’s draw for Indian Wells this year is packed. Missing from action are Juan Martin Del Potro and Fernando Gonzalez, but it won’t be easy for anyone to claim the coveted title in the heart of the desert.
Yes, Roger Federer is playing after rumors and reports by “confirmed sources” that he wouldn’t. How he really is healthwise we won’t know until his second round match against Victor Hanescu or Juan Ignacio Chela. I don’t see anybody that could really trouble Federer in his section at all except maybe Marcos Baghdatis. The bottom half of his side features Gael Monfils, who seemingly battles injuries every day and Andy Roddick who is still dealing with a shoulder issue. Throw in David Nalbandian and you get the sense that whatever Federer is dealing with, it’s not as bad as the “walking wounded” hanging out on his side.
On the other side of the top half, Andy Murray, who’s gotten more press for showing up half-hearted in his recent tourneys, could face Robin Soderling in the quarters. Sure, some darkhorses like Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Feliciano Lopez lurk here, but I have a feeling Murray will be on his best behavior this week and put in the effort needed to have another shot at taking out Federer.
Semifinals: Federer vs. Murray.
In the bottom half is the return of Rafael Nadal who won last year. Doesn’t it seem like lately everytime Nadal enters an event it feels like a comeback of some sort? He’s got a fairly easy time of it in the early rounds before he faces the winner of the likely showdown between John Isner and Sam Querrey. (Gee, Indian Wells, couldn’t you have figured out a way to put the American hopefuls somewhere else in the draw?) Let’s say Isner gets through and faces Nadal. I wouldn’t count Isner out who is looking for a big top five win. He won’t get it here though as Nadal will probably face Nikolay Davydenko in the quarters. Of course, this is best two out of three, so I actually like the Russian unless Nadal is at the top of his game.
At the very end of the draw finds No.2 seed Novak Djokovic fresh off of his emotional Davis Cup win over the U.S. How much mental and physical energy he has left will be a factor. He could probably face Marin Cilic in the quarters who is now becoming a threat in any tournament he plays in. If so, for some reason I’m picking the lanky Croat to silence the cheers of the many Serbians who gather for this event.
Semifinals: Davydenko vs. Cilic.
So if Federer and Murray face off again, will it be a repeat of last year’s semis where Federer played tentative and lost? No. Even if Murray tries out his new aggressive game, I still see Federer taking that match. The Swiss star could face Davydenko in the final and even though has played him tough lately, Federer will find a way to negate the Russian’s speed. He may have been a TBD coming into the event, but Federer, like he always does will find a way to be the envy of all on the final day.
Winner: Federer.
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