ATP Indian Wells men’s preview: Anybody's game, really

Rafael Nadal goes into the 2014 BNP Paribas Open seeking to defend his crown, that he won unexpectedly last year, the first Masters 1000 title of his incredible season.

It was here that his 2013 season truly kickstarted and we all know how the rest of the year went. This year though, Nadal is no longer the underdog, but is by no means the favourite either. With Roger Federer on a high after a mini-resurgence, Novak Djokovic hurting, and Stanislas Wawrinka and Tomas Berdych playing some of the best tennis of their lives, this year’s BNP Paribas Open promises to be one of the most open and exciting tournaments in what is shaping up to be a very interesting year indeed.

Before the action kicks off, let’s have a look at the draw in detail and see who lies in wait for the top seeds.

Section 1

Top seed and defending champion Nadal headlines the first section of the draw as he seeks to capture his fourth Indian Wells crown. With the top 32 seeds having got byes through to the second round, Nadal will open his campaign against either Denis Istomin or the wily Czech Radek Stepanek. A possible encounter with Ukrainian Aleksandr Dolgopolov ensues in the third round, which would be a repeat of their final in Rio a couple of weeks ago.

Rafael Nadal

In the bottom half of the section, Gael Monfils and Fabio Fognini are on course for a meeting in the third round, a matchup which if nothing else, promises to be a lot of fun.

Fourth Round Prediction: Nadal vs Monfils (Winner: Nadal)

Section 2

Andy Murray, who has never won at Indian Wells, having lost the only final he played here to Nadal in 2009, will look to string together some solid results as he continues to work his way back into the game following a debilitating back surgery last year. The Scot is likely to play the ‘Nadal-slayer’, Lukas Rosol, in the second round and Pablo Andujar in the third.

Andy Murray

The top half of the section leaves us with a mouthwatering third round clash in store, with Milos Raonic and Jerzy Janowicz likely to meet at that stage, with relatively easy second round matches to get by.

Fourth Round Prediction: Murray vs Raonic (Winner: Murray)

Section 3

Section 3 features the man of the moment, the man who has led others to believe that winning a Grand Slam is not reserved for the Top 4. That’s right, I’m talking about the ‘Stanimal’, Stanislas Wawrinka. Wawrinka has not played since the Davis Cup win soon after the Australian Open and could take a while to get going in his opener against either Alex Bogomolov Jr. or Ivo Karlovic. After getting through that, a tricky encounter against Italian Andreas Seppi awaits for the Swiss ‘flavour of the season’.

Stanislas Wawrinka

The bottom half of the section is really anybody’s game with Acapulco finalist Kevin Anderson the highest seed in that section of the draw. However, it also features Lleyton ‘Rusty’ Hewitt, who is a two time former champion at Indian Wells, and the dangerous Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

Fourth Round Prediction: Wawrinka vs Hewitt (Winner: Wawrinka)

Section 4

Four time champion Roger Federer, fresh from his triumph in Dubai, will look to test out just how far he has come since last year against a field featuring all of the top players. Federer did well to beat both Djokovic and Berdych from a set down last week in Dubai and will no doubt be riding high on confidence after winning against two Top 10 players. Federer looks to have an easy path through to the fourth round, playing a qualifier in the second round, followed by a possible third round meeting against Juan Monaco or Dmitry Tursunov.

Roger Federer

The top half of the section looks like a shootout between Kei Nishikori and Tommy Haas for a place in the fourth round. However, with Haas having struggled with injuries this year, look out for Jeremy Chardy to perhaps cause a flutter.

Fourth Round Prediction: Federer vs Nishikori (Winner: Federer)

Section 5

Richard Gasquet and John Isner, both players who are seeking to take that next step forward, find themselves in the same section of the draw, perhaps relieved at having avoided any of the Top 6. Gasquet will play either Nicolas Mahut or Teimuraz Gabashvili in the second round followed by a likely matchup against Fernando Verdasco.

Richard Gasquet

Local favourite Isner will open up against either Michael Przysiezny or Nikolday Davydenko in the second round, before a potential banana peel in the form of Philipp Kohlschreiber, semifinalist last week in Dubai, in the fourth round.

Fourth Round Prediction: Gasquet vs Kohlschreiber (Winner: Gasquet)

Section 6

This section features Czech Tomas Berdych, playing some of the best tennis of his life, having strung together some impressive performances thus far this year. Berdych though, would definitely have preferred an easier draw in this first Masters 1000 tournament of the year. The No.4 seed faces a possible second round encounter against Roberto Bautista-Agut, who memorably defeated Juan Martin Del Potro in this year’s Australian Open and if he gets through that, a meeting against either Grigor Dimitrov or Ernests Gulbis in the fourth round awaits.

Tomas Berdych

It’s perhaps unfair that all the form players this year are in the same section of the draw, as Gulbis and Dimitrov, both winners this year on the ATP tour, are likely to face off in the third round, a repeat of their quarter-final encounter in Acapulco last week, where ‘Baby Fed’ triumphed.

With so many unpredictable matches in store, this for me, promises to be the most exciting section of the draw.

Fourth Round Prediction: Berdych vs Dimitrov (Winner: Berdych)

Section 7

If the previous section featured players in scintillating form, this section features the ones who are facing the exact opposite. Del Potro comes into this tournament with serious doubts over his wrist injury, having had to retire in the first round in Dubai last week. He will open against either Feliciano Lopez or Dudi Sela and could face Canadian upstart Vasek Pospisil in the third round.

Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

The other half of the section features Jo-Wilfried Tsonga as the highest seed. Tsonga has struggled slightly since his comeback from injury at the start of the year, and is likely to play countryman Julien Benneteau in the second round. It’s all French for the No.7 seed, as if he gets through Benneteau, Gilles Simon possibly awaits in the third round before the likely fourth round match against Del Potro. Nothing can be taken for granted though, and the upset alert should be high for this section of the draw.

Fourth Round Prediction: Pospisil vs Tsonga (Winner: Tsonga)

Section 8

Novak Djokovic has not had the best of years, especially given his sublime form coming into the year. Having failed to win his ‘Pet Slam’ for the first time in four years, Djokovic then succumbed to Federer in the semifinals at Dubai last week, looking surprisingly lacklustre after capturing the first set. The No.2 seed though, is not a man you should ever take lightly, and will be looking to make amends starting with this tournament. Djokovic will open up against Victor Hanescu or a qualifier and looks to have an easy path through to the fourth round.

Novak Djokovic

While Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo is the top seed in the other half of the section, it is Marin Cilic who is the favourite to make it through to the fourth round. Cilic has been playing some good tennis this year, and will be looking to spring some surprises on the top players this week.

Fourth Round Prediction: Djokovic vs Cilic (Winner: Djokovic)