Ahh the sun, the palm trees and those beautiful mountain views. Kids, forget about March Break — Indian Wells is where it’s at! And no, I’m not an employee of Tourism Indian Wells … hmm but that’s a good idea. I digress.
March is a fun month on the tennis calendar as two of the most exciting Masters events go back-to-back in Indian Wells and Miami.
If there was a fifth Slam, Indian Wells could easily be it. Between the crowds and the coverage, it feels and looks like a Slam. Oh yeah, and it’s just the second mandatory tournament of the season meaning most of the stars are in the desert. For the first time since Wimbledon 2012, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic are all in the same draw.
Federer and Nadal reunite
It’s time for Federer and Nadal to renew their rivalry, wouldn’t you say? Well then what better place than the Indian Wells … quarterfinals. WHAT?!
Yes, it’s possible. For the first time in a long time, Nadal and Federer are set to meet as early as the quarterfinals. Oh the humanity!
Remember when we’d see them meet in almost every final? Those were the glory days.
But the odds of seeing Federer and Nadal meet in the quarterfinals are slim. Federer has a tough draw — he’d have to beat Julien Benneteau (who beat him a couple weeks ago), John Isner or even Stan Wawrinka before facing Nadal.
Nadal has looked great on clay since his return from injury, winning titles in Acapulco and Sao Paulo, but he has practised very little on the hard courts and his knees might have trouble with the transition.
That Canadian kid
Milos Raonic had a very good February.
At the start of the month, Raonic helped lead Canada to their first ever Davis Cup quarterfinals with a win over Spain. Then, he won a record third straight title in San Jose. Once he got to Memphis, he lost early, but if you’re an optimist then you could say it also gave him more time to practise in L.A. before Indian Wells to help adjust to the new conditions.
Raonic has been playing a complete game this season as his backhand, return and net game are coming together. When Raonic is playing that complete game, especially on the hard courts, he’s a scary opponent for most players on tour. The key for Raonic will continue to be consistency.
Raonic is seeded 17th in the desert and could face Marin Cilic, Mardy Fish, and even Jo Wilfried Tsonga in the first few rounds. Sounds like a Grand Slam draw to me.
Welcome back
In their late twenties, most players are thinking of retirement. But not Fish. In his late twenties he changed his diet, lost 30 pounds and had a breakout year, which saw him finish in the ATP top eight.
But last February, a heart condition slowed Fish’s run. Since the initial scare, Fish has played on and off. At Indian Wells, Fish is returning to the court for the first time since he withdrew from last year’s U.S. Open. Let’s hope he stays healthy.
Watch out for the American youngters
Remember when 19-year-old Sloane Stephens upset Serena Williams in January’s Australian Open? That was epic.
Remember when 17-year-old Madison Keys showed off her awesome name and even more awesome serve in January’s Australian Open? That was also epic.
If they played that well in Australia, think of how well they could do in the spotlight in their own country.
Both Keys and Stephens have been called the future of American tennis along with 16-year-old Taylor Townsend. Expect some great play from these girls in the desert.