Indian Wells 4th Round (ATP) 2012 Preview - Bottom Half of draw

Fourth round action at BNP Paribas kicks off today. For a preview of the 4th round clashes in the top half of draw please visit here Let us have a quick look at the bottom half of the draw what we have in store.

1- Del Potro (9) vs Istomin

Description	Del Potro	Istomin
Match Record this year	18-4	13-6
Overall H2H	1	0
Hard Courts H2H	0	0

Istomin showed great form in dismantling the on fire Ferrer, to record his first top 10 win in 11 career meetings, and must be running high on confidence while entering his match against Del Potro. However, in the pair's only meeting before, Del Potro defeated Istomin in straight sets in the first round of Queen's Club last year. Del Potro has also been on fire lately and has not lost to anyone other than Federer since Australian Open, and he played solidly in his match against Verdasco. Del Potro has not lost before the QF stage of any tournament he has so far played in 2012. This is Del Potro's 4th appearance at Indian Wells and he has fallen before the QF only once, back in 2007 on his debut here in Indian Wells (he lost in the second round to then world no.16 Gasquet). For Istomin, this is his 3rd showing at Indian Wells and the first time that he has won a match here, he lost in the first round of the Qualifiers in 2010 and in the first round last year. Expect it to be a tough call for Istomin.

Del Potro in straight sets.

2- Federer (3) vs Bellucci

Description	Federer	Bellucci
Match Record this year	18-2	6-5
Overall H2H	0	0
Hard Courts H2H	0	0

Bellucci has been playing well lately and showed some good form in his second round win over Melzer, however Federer has been on fire and is now riding an 11 match win streak coming into this match and has won his last 73 matches against the players ranked outside top 20. Bellucci is 3-11 in his career against the top 10 players but all those 3 wins have come on clay (2 of them ocming last year en-route his semi-final run to Madrid where he defeated Murray and Berdych before falling to Djokoiv in 3 sets), he is 0-5 against the top 10 playes on hard courts, having failed to win a set in those 5 losses. Federer had some halth issues in his opening match but looked pretty good in his solid performance against one of the fastest rising youngster, Raonic. Federer may be fatigued after his 3 set win over Raonic while Bellucci will be well rested since he got a walkover from Davydenko (Davydenko withdrew due to illness). Federer said after his win over Raonic "I hope to feel better again tomorrow so I will be able to last through long rallies.”

Federer in straight sets.


3- Tsonga (8) vs Nalbandian

Description	Tsonga	Nalbandian
Match Record this year	15-3	10-4
Overall H2H	1	0
Hard Courts H2H	1	0

THe only meeting of the pair came in the final of Paris in 2008, Tsonga came out on top in 3 sets. Nalbandian must be in a mood to get some revenge. This is Tsonga's 5th appearance at Indian Wells and he has made it to the 4th round in 2 of his prior 4 showings here, but has not been able to get out of the 4th round here, loosing to Nadal in 2008 and to Soderling in 2010.Nalbandian is 1-1 against the top 10 players this year (His win came against Tipsarevic in the previous round, while his loss came against Ferrer in the SF of Buenos Aires). Tsonga has not lost any match to a player ranked outside the top 30, so far this year (2 of his 3 losses coming at the hands of Del Potro,ranked 10th at that time and one at the hands of Nishikori, ranked 26th at that time) This is Nalbandian's 9th appearance at Indian Wells. He has made it to the 4th round in 5 of his previous 6 visits here (since 2004), but has progressed beyond the 4r only once during those 5 times. Nalbandian knows what it takes to defeat a top player. I owuld love to see Nalbandian pull it off, but my gut feeling is Tsonga will prevail, still I m going with Nalbandian.

Nalbandian in 3 sets.


4- Nadal (2) vs Dolgopolov (21)

Description	Nadal	Dolgopolov
Match Record this year	11-2	9-5
Overall H2H	2	0
Hard Courts H2H	1	0

This is Nadal's 8th appearance here and he has reached the SF or better the last 6 times he has played here at Indian Wells, his only loss before semi-final coming in his debut year here in 2004. Dolgopolov is trying to reach his first QF at Indian Wells and overall his second QF at a Masters Series event (his previous QF showing was in Shanghai last year). Dolgopolov is 0-2 against top 10 players this year and only 2-15 in his career, and is winless in his previous 4 encounters against the top 3, failing to win even a set against them, the closest he came to taking off a set was at last year's U.S Open against Djokovic when he lost the first set in tie-break. Nadal will be the fresher of the two having won his both matches here in straight sets, while Dolgopolov was pushed to the limits in both his first 2 matches here, coming out on top in 3 sets in both matches. I would love to see Dolgopolov win this one, but with his very inconsistent form it will be tough for him, and many of you must be thinking that I am crazy, but hey, there is no harm in predicting a win for the player you like ;).
Dolgopolov in straight sets.

What are your picks? Do keep us posted. Enjoy :)