Fedal or Potral in Indian Wells 2012 - QF Preview

The last two Quarter-finals take place today with arguably two of the game's greatest players taking the court against their tricky and talented opponents. Federer taking on the court against Del Potro (this is pair's 4th meeting this year) , while Nadal taking on the court against Nalbandian. Let us have a quick review:

1- Federer (3) vs Del Potro (9)
Federer has been to Del Potro, what Azarenka has been to Radwanska this year, with only 2 differences. Federer has lost a match to Nadal (Australian Open Semi-Finals), while Azarenka has yet to loose a match this year. Radwanska has not lost to anyone but Azarenka, Del Potro has lost one match to a player not named Federer, this year (the loss coming in Sydney to at the hands of Baghdatis). Like Azarenka- Radwanska, this is Federer - Del Potro's 4th meeting this year. It promises to be an interesting match, Federer was stretched to length in his last two matches here, in both of which he lost the first set but came back to win the match. In the pair's most recent meeting in the semi-finals of Dubai, Federer saved 4 set points in the second set tie-breaker. Del Potro has been on a roll himself this year and he is getting into form that took him to his only Grand Slam he has won so far. Del Potro was also given a tough test by Istomin in the pair's 4th round encounter. It will all come down to who can hold his serve efficiently. Expect it to be although battle.

Description	Federer	Del Potro
Match Record this year	19-2	19-4
Overall H2H	10	2
Hard Courts H2H	7	2

Del Potro was the last South American to beat Federer, in the 2009 Barclay's ATP World Tour Finals, since then Federer has not lost any of 17 matches he has played against the South Americans. Federer has won the pair's last 4 meetings in straight sets, but their most recent meeting at Dubai suggests that things might get interesting here. Federer has so far last his serve only 3 times (held 34 times out of 37 times), while Del Potro has lost his serve only twice so far in this tournament (held serve for 34 times out of 36 times). It will all come down to whose serve breaks down. I hope Federer can continue his winning ways, although I have a feeling that Del Potro may be taking this one. We are in for a treat no doubt.

Federer in 3 sets.


2- Nadal (2) vs Nalbandian

Description	Nadal	Nalbandian
Match Record this year	11-2	11-4
Overall H2H	3	2
Hard Courts H2H	3	2

Nalbandian is 2-2 against top 10 players at Indian Wells, and he has beaten two top 10 players for the first time in one tournament since Paris 2008. nadal has not lost any set so far in this tournament. Nadal has made it to the semi-finals or better in each of his past 6 appearances here, while for Nalbandian this his only 2nd QF appearance here. In the pair's most recent encounter, Nadal came out on top in the 3rd round of last year's U.S Open. Nalbandian with his back to back top 10 wins has shown that he can create trouble for Nadal. In 2 of the pair's last 3 meetings Nalbandian did take a set off nadal. If Nalbandian can keep his level up, it will be an interesting match and we may see an upset here. Nadal will win this one, but I want to go for Nalbandian, since there is no harm in going for the player you like ;)

Nadal in 3 sets.