Indian Wells 2011 Heating Up: Matches and Matchups To Look Out For

We've had a week and a half of exciting semi-grand slam tennis, and it's only the first Masters Series 1000 of the year.

There have been some upsets, but now, at last, eight women and men have fought through to the quarterfinals. Half of them are completed as of this moment, although it is still worthwhile reviewing the match activity that has transpired and which may come to pass.

The men's draw, no doubt, has been a story of its own: The defeat of Murray and the toppling of Soderling, no doubt the keynote events of the past week.

Nadal's most recent victory over Ivo Karlovic in a tense three setter, moreover, has raised more questions than answers over the state of his form.

The biggest question is the one that now faces him, however, and it should prove a tantalising clash between the titan who is, himself, and the titan who was, but who is rising again—Juan Martin Del Potro.

His run to the semifinals, without the loss of a set (which should be raising some alarm bells for his rivals), has been awfully reminiscent of his run at the US Open in 2009: strong and sturdy, a fell crushing wind against his helpless opponents.

Moreover, he has, in fact, beaten Nadal the last three times they have played—will he be the first to make it four in a row against Rafa?

More curiosity lurks in the bottom half of the draw.

The quarterfinal match-ups today, between Novak Djokovic and Richard Gasquet, and Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, should see a potential dream semifinal, and a match for the number two ranking—that is, should Federer and Djokovic win.

While that possibility is only a match away, they face not inconsiderable opposition in a compatriot Swiss and a talented underachieving Frenchmen, both with one-handed backhands to die for.

Most of the crowd, no doubt, will be rooting for a Federer-Djokovic clash tomorrow.

The women's side also presents a story of continuity and challenge.

We have titanic clashes, but matches which present a grand narrative of challenger against the ruling order. Caroline Wozniacki faces Maria Sharapova, whose epic run to the semifinals would mirror something of Del Potro's own run in the men's draw. She seems to have been playing with some anger this week, especially in her dismissal of Dinara Safina yesterday.

She will need more of it today, no doubt, when she faces the stoical Danish tennis queen.

Wickmayer and Bartoli offer a less star-studded line-up, but one which should prove no less fiery. Something about this match seems to cry out that it will only be the final hurdle for the champion's challenger, however—maybe it's the relative obscurity of these two players, as well-accomplishes as they are.

The favourite for the title would probably be coming from the top half of the draw, one imagines.

It would only be fitting that Bartoli and Wickmayer take first to court today—something also suggests that they will be but the beginning of great things.