Indian Wells 2014 - 12 March

STADIUM 1 Start 11:00 am

[10] Milos Raonic (CAN) v [5] Andy Murray (GBR)

Not Before 1:00 pm

[6] Simona Halep (ROU) v [Q] Casey Dellacqua (AUS)

[3] Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) v [17] Kevin Anderson (RSA)

[11] Tommy Haas (GER) v [7] Roger Federer (SUI)

Not Before 7:00 pm

[7] Jelena Jankovic (SRB) v [2] Agnieszka Radwanska (POL)

Not Before 8:30 pm

[24] Marin Cilic (CRO) v [2] Novak Djokovic (SRB)

STADIUM 2 Start 11:00 am

[28] Alexandr Dolgopolov (UKR) v [13] Fabio Fognini (ITA)

[20] Ernests Gulbis (LAT) v Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP)

[30] Fernando Verdasco (ESP) v [12] John Isner (USA)

Feliciano Lopez (ESP) v Julien Benneteau (FRA)

Not Before 5:00 pm

[1] Bob Bryan (USA) Mike Bryan (USA) v Nicolas Mahut (FRA) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA)

Roger Federer (SUI) Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI) v [4] Leander Paes (IND) Radek Stepanek (CZE)

STADIUM 3 Start 1:00 pm

[5] Cara Black (ZIM) Sania Mirza (IND) v [2] Ekaterina Makarova (RUS) Elena Vesnina (RUS)

[WC] Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) Samantha Stosur (AUS) v Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN) Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (CZE)

[1] Su-Wei Hsieh (TPE) Shuai Peng (CHN) v [7] Ashleigh Barty (AUS) Casey Dellacqua (AUS)

[3] Ivan Dodig (CRO) Marcelo Melo (BRA) v John Isner (USA) Sam Querrey (USA)

Some good matches today...

MoTD (IMO) - Dolgopolov v Fognini

Enjoy!

PS: Would love to see Gulbis make it to SFs here.

I'm not a massive fan of Raonic, but credit to him here for trying to win points. I do wish Murray would do more than play so safe and wait for guys to miss.

Surely though Raonic is only adopting this approach because his ground game is fundamentally poor? I agree with you that Murray is often too negative but from what Ive seen so far the balance seems about right for this particular match up.

I am surprised that with weapons that Raonic has that he isn't able to make more of a dent in the Murray serve. Reminds me of their US Open encounter.

Probably the first moment of real genius I have seen from Andy since his return. Delightful wrong-footing slice. Too passive on the 30-30 point.

legendkillarV2 wrote:I am surprised that with weapons that Raonic has that he isn't able to make more of a dent in the Murray serve. Reminds me of their US Open encounter.

Raonic may be a 2011+ version of Roddick, may be a bit better. Isner and Karlovic also have big booming serves, but very little else in terms of the ground game, as BS points out. Raonic does approach the net a bit more than Isner though, the Lu match notwithstanding.

laverfan wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:I am surprised that with weapons that Raonic has that he isn't able to make more of a dent in the Murray serve. Reminds me of their US Open encounter.

Raonic may be a 2011+ version of Roddick, may be a bit better. Isner and Karlovic also have big booming serves, but very little else in terms of the ground game, as BS points out. Raonic does approach the net a bit more than Isner though, the Lu match notwithstanding.

It is good to see that Raonic is standing closer to the baseline than compared to their previous encounters. Raonic has a monster FH that is failing him today. Mentally needs to be a bit tougher.

Raonic is actually probably slightly better at the net than Roddick - who really was clueless in that department. However, Roddick's ground game and return was better.

Raonic should be far more aggressive than he is. He relies too much on his serve and needs to add something to his relatively passive return game against the top guys.

Second moment of genius in 10 minutes from Murray. Unreal pass but he wasted the 0-30 point and Raonic escapes.

Shouldn't be getting broken be Raonic....

Dolgo through. Third set in M v R.

Dolgo making good progress in 2014 which is refreshing to see. I wish Foggy would do more with his talent. Grrrrrrr

@LK.. There was a short video prior to the match, showing their Tokyo match. Hopefully Murray will play a bit better now and not play the roulette of a third set TB.

@BS... Stefanki made significant improvements in Roddick circa 2008-2009, which IMO was a better version than the 2003-2007 boom-boom.

Murray beeing slapped like a booty in downtown club.

Dolgo played superb. The Fog barely shook hands.

legendkillarV2 wrote: I wish Foggy would do more with his talent. Grrrrrrr

Even his coaching staff was visibly upset during the Monfils match and showed their dismay and frustration. His casual demeanor and the lazy walk-in-the-park style seems to negate his ball striking. Mental side has it's own dogma.

Seppi is a much harder worker than Il Duce Foggy.

laverfan wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote: I wish Foggy would do more with his talent. Grrrrrrr

Even his coaching staff was visibly upset during the Monfils match and showed their dismay and frustration. His casual demeanor and the lazy walk-in-the-park style seems to negate his ball striking. Mental side has it's own dogma.

Seppi is a much harder worker than Il Duce Foggy.

Maybe he needs someone on board who will help him harness his talent. He has the physical talent to win slams but not the mental. It is frustrating to watch.

If you manage to somehow get broken 3 times against Raonic you deserve to lose.

The draw now opens up for a certain Federer

So how do we take this frm Andy? Still back not 100% or still confidence not 100%? He looked knackered all week. Lets see how Miami folds, but I have a feeling Hard courts aint heping him.

Jahu wrote:So how do we take this frm Andy? Still back not 100% or still confidence not 100%? He looked knackered all week. Lets see how Miami folds, but I have a feeling Hard courts aint heping him.

I haven't a clue how he's played as I haven't seen any matches but I'm guessing a bit of both - back and confidence. If hard courts aren't helping him he's only got one surface left!!

legendkillarV2 wrote:The draw now opens up for a certain Federer

Haas, Wawrinka, Dolgo/Raonic/Djokovic. Tough, if you ask me.

Well I did say the other day Murray is nowhere near the kind of form needed to win here and have been proven right. I'd say as well it strengthens my belief that despite common theory Murray does better on quicker courts and this one is one of the slowest on the tennis circuit. No this isn't an excuse as Raonic deserved the win for sure - just an observation.

Fingers crossed we get a brand new winner of Indian Wells.   

Yes, the new-old Fed

Jahu wrote:Yes, the new-old Fed

Preferably not. Usher in a new era with a new starlet ie Dolgopolov, Wawrinka, Raonic, Gulbis etc.

I will accept Dolgo in that wish of yours.

laverfan wrote:

legendkillarV2 wrote:The draw now opens up for a certain Federer

Haas, Wawrinka, Dolgo/Raonic/Djokovic. Tough, if you ask me.

It is tough, but on current form Federer is looking good.

Like CC I want to see a new winner.

Gulbis on fire, takes first set on TB.

I think Federer looks rubbish. He couldn't serve out sets against Mathieu and Tursunov.

Jahu wrote:Gulbis on fire, takes first set on TB.

... like a  woman... .   Just lost 50% respect for his talent. I would like him to lose this set for saying just that.

PS: Come on BA!

What's up?

bogbrush wrote:What's up?

Gulbis to Bernardes... "I hear a complain every time I cough, get time violations, etc., ... [you] are crying like a woman...".

F*k Gulbis, spoilt brat that he is. I agree with H-n about his attitude issues.

Yes, second set goes to Agut.

I told yesterday Kevin Anderson will beat Stan the Man, KA has been playing spectacular tennis of late, got a massive serve and forehand a very consistent backhand , he very much resembles Del Po of 2008-2009, the one thing he severally bad is approaching the net.

Certainly won't be an easy task for the Swiss master in the QF.

I am slowly and steadily becoming the fan of KA [ another hard worker in ATP tour like David Ferrer but with big guns]  

invisiblecoolers wrote:I told yesterday Kevin Anderson will beat Stan the Man

Indeed you did (I think you even predicted a 3-setter?).  I was thinking of your prediction when I saw the result.  Can you also predict Cilic to win against Nole please?

Federer plays some clean tennis and gets Haas out of the way, 6-4, 6-4. Nice shots, but bad BP conversion.

@iC... Stan had two MTOs today. But KA played the first set TB very nicely.

Federer v Anderson should be interesting. I would cautiously say 60-40 for Federer.

Come on Cilic, deck him.

Cilic takes first set 6:1, oh yeahhh

Djoko wins in 3 sets. Good match, if a little slow.

Jahu, what happened in the first set? Was Cilic great or Novak off the pace?

Very enjoyable Haas/Fed match, tennis like is should be played (albeit compromised for this turgid court surface).

HM Murdoch wrote:Jahu, what happened in the first set? Was Cilic great or Novak off the pace?

HM, first set went quick, 27 minutes i think, Cilic was serving crazy and hitting the lines, Djoko could not return at all or serve properly, his usual lapse he's getting nowadays.

Djoko woke up on second set, and on third Cilic gave up mentally.

Not worried about Murray. Like a football team lacking confidence, he's struggling to remember how to win

Thought it was a good match

As I've said before if he's still struggling at Wimby, then there will be a problem

Very surprised that Stan chose to play doubles after his MTOs yesterday, but Fedrinka managed to beat Stepaes.

LF - Stan might have scratched in the doubles if he had still been in the singles. As it is, he won't play again until deep in to next week so probably happy to carry on with the Fedrinka pairing.
Interesting how, in so many tournaments, the guys who sail thru the early rounds can lose when, at last, they get in a dogfight. In contrast, the players facing tough matches early on kinda get used to being in a spot and find a way to win.

sirfredperry wrote:LF - Stan might have scratched in the doubles if he had still been in the singles. As it is, he won't play again until deep in to next week so probably happy to carry on with the Fedrinka pairing.

As long as Wawrinka stays healthy, it is good. Happy to see that Federer may have a chance at a double.

Relax LF and take pleasure in the fact that Gulbis is a massive waster and will never win anything of note in his career. A thoroughly unlikable man.

summerblues wrote:

invisiblecoolers wrote:I told yesterday Kevin Anderson will beat Stan the Man

Indeed you did (I think you even predicted a 3-setter?).  I was thinking of your prediction when I saw the result.  Can you also predict Cilic to win against Nole please?

Hey SB, sorry I didn't see your post in time for me to reply,    but good news is I suspect an major underdog win over the favourite in Gulbis-Nole encounter.   

Not sure whether My prediction can be 100% rite, coz its afterall a prediction, but I am having a feel Gulbis gonna make the finals.  

sirfredperry wrote:.......................
  Interesting how, in so many tournaments, the guys who sail thru the early rounds can lose when, at last, they get in a dogfight. In contrast, the players facing tough matches early on kinda get used to being in a spot and find a way to win.
   

Interesting indeed sfp, and your point here is a well-made one. I feel it was ever thus in the world of top level tennis.

I seem to think (although my memory could be playing tricks, in which case laverfan will no doubt put me right .......  ) that in at least one - and perhaps more - of his majestic and multiple Wimbledon triumphs, a certain B. Borg came perilously close to exiting to a relative 'unknown' in a very early round ; perhaps even in R1.

The Special Juan wrote:Relax LF and take pleasure in the fact that Gulbis is a massive waster and will never win anything of note in his career.  A thoroughly unlikable man.

It was just temporary insanity, your honour. No one died. (But I was indeed out-of-line, so apologies for my diatribe).