Indian Wells Match Thread (Nadal wins!)

[Silver]

First topic message reminder :

Rafael Nadal defeats Juan Martin Del Potro to win Indian Wells 2013! 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Nadal's route to the title:

R1: Bye
R2: Ryan Harrison (7-6, 6-2)
R3: Leonardo Mayer (Walkover)
R4: Ernests Gulbis (4-6, 6-4, 7-5)
QF: Roger Federer (6-4, 6-2)
SF: Tomas Berdych (6-4, 7-5)
F: Juan Martin Del Potro (4-6, 6-3, 6-4)

Updated draw on the ATP site.

[Henman Bill]

Lydian, would you agree that RN's FH is much more reliable on clay? If so, why?

[quietplease]

I agree HB but it seems unlikely to go beyond two sets

[Henman Bill]

Solid enough there.

[lydian]

This isn't going to a 3rd unless Delpo somehow bizarrely chokes.

[Henman Bill]

By the way - far more BH's down the line from DP today, perhaps suggesting it's more about forehand avoidance than a lack of ability with this shot, at least to some extent.

[User 774433]

Del Potro

[Henman Bill]

Del Potro needs to do 2 things here.

1 Serve well, get some first serves in.
2 Not let his level drop, not start missing.

That's all really. Can't see Nadal changing things up dramatically.

[lydian]

Kind of HB, clay for all its slower properties doesn't bounce as high as this type of court, he's probably still not fully adjusted from the 3 clay events recently either. He can slide into shots on clay too, but he's not normally anywhere near this bad. Its kind of weird today...Rafa just needs to throw the shackles off and go for it.

[Henman Bill]

worst drop shot I've seen for a while...still wins the point..writing on the wall?

[summerblues]

DF.

[LuvSports!]

I can still see a way back in for rafa, and what do you know 15-30

[LuvSports!]

15-40

[Jahu]

Hold serve boy hold it

[summerblues]

15-40

[LuvSports!]

there it is

[summerblues]

3:3

[summerblues]

Let's see if Delpo can keep it up.

[User 774433]

worst drop shot I've seen for a while...still wins the point..writing on the wall?

yes, delpo has this in the bag.
He will break now.

[Henman Bill]

Well, I was wrong about writing on the wall. On the other hand I was saying it would just take DP's level to drop...which is what happened. Obviously key stage of the match now.

[ALPanorak]

Second wind for Rafa. Almost seems to be the reverse of the first set all of a sudden. This looks far from over...

[CaledonianCraig]

Rafa on the comeback trail. If Rafa takes the second set I make him a nailed on cert to win the match. Del Potro must up his level again.

[User 774433]

Nadal has withdrawn from Miami.

Both Nadal and Federer break up with IMG... and now both withdraw from Miami... not a coincidence.

[summerblues]

Nadal has withdrawn from Miami.

Both Nadal and Federer break up with IMG... and now both withdraw from Miami... not a coincidence.

I was assuming all along he would not play there but it will make it very difficult for him to get to #4 before RG.

[summerblues]

another DF

[LuvSports!]

set gone

[summerblues]

Nadal has to be the favorite from here on.

[User 774433]

Del Potro will win the set 7-5 imo.

[Henman Bill]

that last point looked Rafa's all the way...credit for Del Potro for making him earn it at least.

[Henman Bill]

Del Potro will win the set 7-5 imo.

Hahaha, at least you have a sense of humour.

[User 774433]

[Henman Bill]

By the way, let's not all jump on the "the match is over now" bandwagon. Rafa is a little favourite but who knows, you just never know in this game.

[ALPanorak]

Nadal is playing sublimely now and Delpo just looks out of sorts. I'm not sure its necessarily that his 'legs have gone' but rather just a complete lack of focus because this turnaround happened very suddenly. 1 Set apiece

[lydian]

What a bizarre turnaround. Looks like Rafa just decided to throw more caution to the wind.
Don't know how this will go now...it's not been that gruelling a match so far to make stamina an issue.

[CaledonianCraig]

Game over. Rafa to bulldoze his way to the title now. Del Potro looks to have hit the wall physically.

[Henman Bill]

Actually, I think this has been Rafa's best performance EDIT in this tournament I mean. Despite some very odd errors and a few strange points, I think he has been solid for the most part. Doesn't look ready for Djokovic on hard, but maybe he'll get there.

[Henman Bill]

Don't really feel like DP blew up there- just slightly off the boil and Rafa playing better.

[Henman Bill]

Rafa is leaving a big space on his forehand - Del Potro needs to find the space more often to me.

[Henman Bill]

at the moment DP looks very fractionally off on timing and physical conditioning/emotional energy

[summerblues]

ouch

[summerblues]

Rafa got his teeth into this game and is not wanting to let go.

[ALPanorak]

Seeing a lot more variety from Nadal now and he appears to be more comfortable sliding around the court. It goes without saying but this current first game is pivotal.

[summerblues]

Tough hold, but well done. He wil hope this is not the precursor for his remaining service games.

[Henman Bill]

Rafa looks a little more up for the fight while Del Potro, who by the way will be mightily relieved to get out of that first game - especially after that horrible miss on game point - looks more tense, and just wanting to get out of his surface games alive. Those service games do look vulnerable. Having said that Del Potro is still playing at a high level, they both are.

For Rafa, too many moonballs which cost him that game. If he is going to moonball a bit, it needs to be deeper with more bite.

[User 774433]

He needs to moonball higher, deeper.

[User 774433]

LOL.

[Henman Bill]

wow, what a contrast there on the ease of holding! Del Potro will have to go after Rafa's serve more, because you cannot do enough damage on this surface with the first delivery and with the way Rafa is playing - DP will get broken at some stage probably.

[Danny_1982]

Delpo is all but out of gas. Rafa still looks quite spritely.

This is a matter of time surely.

[summerblues]

The start of this set is not looking good for Delpo. Maybe getting a bit tired after all?

[User 774433]

FECKING GET IN

[summerblues]

It will be awful hard from here.

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