With Indian Wells starting, all the top players will be in for the win. The defending champions Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova are looking good to retain their title. The top 4 seeds on both tours are real title contenders though, so be prepared for another amazing 2 weeks!
ATP -
#1 Seed - Rafael Nadal
Best Result - Champion '07, '09, '13
2013 Result - Champion
Worst Possible Draw -
R1 - Bye
R2 - Radek Stepanek
R3 - Alexandr Dolgopolov (28)
R4 - Fabio Fognini (13)
QF - Andy Murray (5)
SF - Stanislas Wawrinka (3)
F - Novak Djokovic (2)
Comparing his draw to others, the defending champion has certainly got the toughest draw. The world number 1 will be looking to have a rematch against Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka and avenge his defeat to the Swiss. If the Spaniard can produce the performances he produced last year then he can certainly go all the way!
#2 Seed - Novak Djokovic
Best Result - Champion '08, '11
2013 Result - Semi Finalist
Worst Possible Draw -
R1 - Bye
R2 - Victor Hanescu
R3 - Ivan Dodig (31)
R4 - Tommy Robredo (16)
QF - Juan Martin del Potro (6)
SF - Tomas Berdych (4)
F - Rafael Nadal (1)
The Serbs run to the final looks fairly routine apart from the shadow of Juan Martin del Potro. The Argentine knocked out Novak at the semis last year and it looks almost certain that they'll meet again. Djokovic will be definite favourite to make the final but that's as far as it goes for the number 2 seed as his recent form has dipped.
#3 Seed - Stanislas Wawrinka
Best Result - Quarter Finalist '08, '11
2013 Result - Round Four
Worst Possible Draw -
R1 - Bye
R2 - Ivo Karlovic
R3 - Andreas Seppi (29
R4 - Mikhail Youzhny (14)
QF - Roger Federer (7)
SF - Rafael Nadal (1)
F - Novak Djokovic (2)
If the Swiss is to win the title, he's going to have to do it the hard way and maybe defeat 3 of the Big 4. The Australian Open Champion is in hot form but has not played in a tournament since the Aussie Open but he is unbeaten this year with 2 titles. The world number 3 will produce fine perfomances but his Swiss compatriot might get the better of him on this occasion.
#4 Seed - Tomas Berdych
Best Result - Semi Finalist '13
2013 Result - Semi Finalist
Worst Possible Draw -
R1 - Bye
R2 - Roberto Bautista Agut
R3 - Florian Mayer (26)
R4 - Grigor Dimitrov (15)
QF - Richard Gasquet (8)
SF - Novak Djokovic (2)
F - Rafael Nadal (1)
Tomas Berdych will be delighted he is in a top 4 seeding but it's no easy run to his second potential Masters crown. The Czech is unfortunate to be in the same eighth of the draw as in-form Grigor Dimitrov who is hot off a win in Acapulco but Berdych played well to get to the Dubai final and you never know, anything is possible.
WTA -
With no Serena again Indian Wells is pretty much open this year as the pool is very equal.
#1 Seed - Li Na
Australian Open champion Li Na has got to be the favourite for the title in Indian Wells. Her first challenge will be in the 4th Round where she might play Wimbledon finalist Sabine Lisicki who will definiltey give her a battle. Then maybe 2011 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. The potential semi final between Li Na and defending champion Maria Sharapova is destined to be an amazing spectacle but on recent form, Li is set to win her first title in Indian Wells.
#2 Seed - Agnieszka Radwanksa
The Pole has been playing very consistently over the last 2 years. Her performances in Australia were good and in Indian Wells she should be able to continue that form. However in Dubai she was very poor as she lost in her first match so we don't know which Radwanka will turn up. The shadow of Jelena Jankovic lures in the quarters and that shadow will probably defeat the Pole.
#3 Seed - Victoria Azarenka
Vika will look to retain her title she won in 2012 to bounce back from her fail to defend her 2 Australian Opens. The draw looks extremely good for Azarenka and it is pretty much certain she'll reach the final as her possible semi final opponents are Jelena Jankovic or Aga Radwanksa. Whether she'll win the title remains to be seen in the next 2 weeks but the final looks like a potential finish for the number 3 seed.
#4 Seed - Maria Sharapova
The defending champion will be looking for her 3rd consecutive Indian Wells final. The Russian has been struggling to find her form lately because of her injury at Wimbledon but her run to the 4th Round in Melbourne showed promise. For Maria Sharapova, the draw looks fairly easy as her hardest opponent before the semi finals will be Angelique Kerber. Unfortunately her possible semi final opponent will be Australian Open champ Li Na and her title defence will probably end there but you never know, Maria could make a comeback.
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