Federer-Nadal and Murray-Djokovic Highlight Potential Indian Wells Quarterfinals Matchups

March 7, 2013 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Defending champion Roger Federer could meet Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals of the 2013 BNP Paribas Open. Even before a potential meeting with Nadal, Federer could have a re-match of last year’s final against American John Isner in the fourth round. Federer is seeded second on his 13th appearance at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden and opens his title defense against either Denis Istomin or a qualifier. Also in his section is the 28th-seeded Julien Benneteau, whom he lost to in last month’s Rotterdam quarterfinals, countryman Stanislas Wawrinka and two-time former champion Lleyton Hewitt. Federer has a 39-8 record at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament, winning the title in 2004-2006 and 2012.

Nadal, seeded fifth, had been sidelined for seven months with a left knee injury. He won the Indian Wells trophy in 2007 and again in 2009, and will face either American Ryan Harrison or Japan’s Go Soeda in his opener. 

Top-ranked Novak Djokovic and number three Andy Murray are on a semifinal collision course. The two contested the Australian Open final in January, and also met twice in major finals last year. Djokovic is on a 13-match unbeaten streak in 2013, winning the Australian Open and Dubai titles, and is chasing his third trophy in Indian Wells, following victories in 2008 and 2011.

Djokovic begins his campaign against either Fabio Fognini of Italy or Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene. Djokovic is in the same section as Juan Monaco and Sam Querrey and is projected to face eighth-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the quarterfinals. 

Murray is playing his first tournament since the Australian Open and could overtake Federer at number two in the Emirates ATP Rankings after the tournament. Murray faces either Evgeny Donskoy of Russia or Japan’s Tatsuma Ito in the second round. Murray could meet the 26 seed, Martin Klizan, in the third round and could face either Kei Nishikori or Alexandr Dolgopolov in the fourth round. Seventh seed Juan Martin del Potro is Murray’s projected quarterfinal opponent. 

Click here to view the full Men’s Singles draw.


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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