Top Storylines to Watch in Week 2 of 2015 Indian Wells Masters
The finish line is fast approaching, but plenty more tennis will be played this week in the California desert, and there’s no shortage of sizzling plot points to follow.
On the men’s side, Roger Federer will first try to vanquish his Australian Open conqueror, and if he passes that test, the Swiss legend will be on a collision course with his Spanish archrival.
Standing in their path is a trio of young stars searching for an important tournament win and the current king of tennis, Novak Djokovic, who’s going for his fourth title.
Not to be outdone, the women’s field features plenty of intrigue as well. While Maria Sharapova battles her way toward another final, she'll have to contend with a determined Serena Williams, who’s back at the event for the first time in 14 years.
The following slides will present a deeper look at the top storylines in the second week at Indian Wells. Buckle up for some wild and drama-filled days ahead.
Roger Federer Goes for Revenge Against Andreas Seppi
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Two months ago, Federer suffered one of the most shocking losses of his career at the Australian Open, a defeat that sent tremors around the tennis world.
He now has a chance at payback against the man who beat him.
Andreas Seppi rocked Federer 6-4, 7-6 (4), 4-6, 7-6 (5) in front of a speechless Rod Laver Arena crowd that January night. The fact Federer lost in the third round of a Grand Slam was surprising enough, but the way he lost raised even more eyebrows.
Coming into the match, Federer was on a roll. He stormed to a season-opening title in Brisbane and breezed through his first two matches in Melbourne. Seppi appeared to be just another sparring partner. Instead, the Swiss Maestro was the one who looked like the upstart challenger, turning in a dreadful performance and looking out of sorts all match.
Doubts were inevitably raised about Federer's future after that loss, but he rebounded with a winning run in Dubai last month. As he goes for another title at Indian Wells, expect Federer to serve Seppi some revenge for that Aussie nightmare.
Young ATP Stars Search for Breakthrough
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The Big Four of Federer, Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Djokovic have ruled men's tennis with an iron grip for the last decade. They don't look ready to pass the torch anytime soon, but the triumvirate of Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic and Grigor Dimitrov will look to mount a rebellion at Indian Wells.
None of those three men have won a Masters Series event yet, so this week offers another chance for them to cement their place as the top challengers in tennis.
Of the three, Nishikori looks the most ready to break through, and the 25-year-old Japanese star is finding offensive firepower to pair with his elite defense and court coverage. He's already booked a spot in the fourth round here after swatting away Ryan Harrison and outlasting Fernando Verdasco in a tough third-round match. With a meeting against Murray in the quarterfinals on the horizon, Nishikori will be ready for his shot.
Raonic, who entered the tournament with an 11-5 record in 2015, possesses one thing that Nishikori doesn't have: a monster serve. That weapon has guided the young Canadian to the No. 6 ranking, but he's still searching for validation in big events like this one. While his fitness, movement and backhand have all progressed in the last few months, Raonic needs to start performing better against the top players in the world.
After easing past Simone Bolelli in his first match, Raonic will next play a tricky opponent in Alexandr Dolgopolov. If he survives against The Dog, Milos could face—who else—Dimitrov in the fourth round.
It's been a rough start to the year for Dimitrov, but the Bulgarian gritted his way past Nick Kyrgios in a physical second-round match to set up a clash with Spanish veteran Tommy Robredo. Like Raonic, he's furiously trying to make good on his potential and start living up to the hype. If they meet each other, Dimitrov and Raonic will both be hungry for a season-building win.
Maria Sharapova's Quest for a 3rd Title
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Sharapova lost more ground to Williams in the Australian Open final with yet another loss to her nemesis. But a title run this week would give her valuable momentum before the clay-court season.
A two-time (2006, 2013) champion at Indian Wells, Sharapova failed to defend her title last year after suffering an upset in the third round to Camila Giorgi. With so few points to back up this time, a golden opportunity awaits the Russian.
To reach the final, Sharapova will have to work past a recharged Victoria Azarenka, which will be no easy feat. From there, a potential semifinal against Eugenie Bouchard awaits. But Sharapova has enough guile to work her way through that half of the draw.
If she captures the crown, Sharapova would break an eight-way tie for the most titles at the event. More importantly, she'd edge closer to Serena and ignite their race for No 1.
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Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal Head Toward Semifinal Showdown
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If the draw goes according to plan, tennis fans could be treated to a dream semifinal: Federer vs. Nadal.
Whenever they play, there's always so much on the line. Rankings points, titles, personal pride—even history. Should they face off for the 34th installment in their legendary rivalry this week, both players will have something to prove.
For Nadal, he's desperately trying to find his old form after taking a large chunk of time off last season to deal with a litany of injuries. He's been shaky so far this season, dropping several matches in head-scratching fashion. But after winning the title in Buenos Aires at the end of February, he may finally be turning the corner.
The Spaniard looked dominant in his opening match, disposing of Igor Sijsling 6-4, 6-2. While Donald Young, Gilles Simon and either Raonic or Dimitrov block his path, Nadal should bully his way past of all them and book a spot in the semifinals.
If Federer joins him there, he'll have to erase some recent dismal history against Nadal. The Swiss has dropped their last five meetings and sits at 10-23 in their head-to-head matchup. Ouch. What should give Federer hope is that his last win over Nadal came at Indian Wells three years ago. Maybe, just maybe, he can replicate that magic.
As both players age, their meetings are becoming less frequent. So if Federer and Nadal clash in a blockbuster semifinal match, cherish the moment.
Novak Djokovic Attempts to Win Record-Tying Title
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The Djokovic express is chugging along in California, and the destination is another final. All aboard.
There are few athletes in any sport at the moment who dominate their sport like Djokovic does to tennis. He's the man to beat at every tournament he enters, and at age 27, the Serbian is in the absolute prime of his career. On the slower hard courts of Indian Wells, it will require a superhuman performance to take him out.
The world No. 1 rolled through his opening match over Marcos Baghdatis 6-1, 6-3 and will take on journeyman Albert Ramos-Vinolas in third round. Have fun, Albert.
Djokovic's movement, defensive skills and tenacity make him a tough out on any surface, but here? These courts were tailored to his game.
The three-time champion (2008, 2011, 2014) is ready to defend his crown and tie Federer's record of four titles at the event. He'll likely have to go through David Ferrer in the quarterfinals before facing Murray or Nishikori in the semifinals, but Djokovic has all the momentum to reach his fifth final in the desert.
Even against Nadal or Federer in a potential championship match, Djokovic will have the odds in his favor as he seeks to extend his reign over the tennis kingdom.
Serena Williams Seeks Storybook Finish
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Williams’ 14-year boycott of Indian Wells is finally over, and she’s on a mission to make up for lost time.
The 33-year-old American battled through emotions and nerves to win her first match 7-5, 7-5 over Monica Niculescu, but she brought her vintage tennis in a 6-2, 6-0 destruction of Zarina Diyas in the third round. Future opponents beware.
Standing in the way next will be a rejuvenated Sloane Stephens, and third-seeded Simona Halep lingers as a potential semifinal opponent. If she reaches the final, Serena could face archenemy Sharapova. No opponent, however, will intimidate Serena.
With the pain of 2001 serving as fuel, there may be no stopping her quest for a third title at the tournament. It’s tough enough to beat Serena on an ordinary day, but she now has a purpose. While lifting the trophy may not erase the past, it would provide a statement win and a powerful catharsis.
All statistics are courtesy of ATPWorldTour.com and WTATennis.com unless otherwise noted.
Joe Kennard is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.
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