By Flint Wheeler
Rafael Nadal is going to face difficult challenge against in-form 17-time Grand Slam winner Roger Federer and world No. 2 Novak Djokovic at the BNP Paribas Open, where he will return back to action on Friday at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells.
Rafael Nadal, who has arrived here in Indian Wells after winning Rio Open last month, he is looking hot favorite to defend BNP Paribas Open next week. Spaniard has been playing good tennis from the beginning of the season and hopes to continue similar form in Indian Wells. Nadal working hard in training session along with his coach, where he is likely to return back to Indian Wells Tennis Garden on Saturday. Spanish star will face Czech Republic star Radek Stepanek in the BNP Paribas Open first round.
Rafael Nadal the 13-time singles Grand slam champion has been placed along with Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Stan Wawrinka in his draw, where Spanish star needs to play best tennis to challenge top ranked players in Indian Wells.
Six-time Grand Slam champion Novak Djokovic is going to bounce back at BNP Paribas Open and he has been struggling with his form from the beginning of the season. Serbian aims to clinch Indian Wells next week before heading to the Sony Open Tennis in Miami this month ending.
Other BNP notes, with men finishing their first round, Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, the 2008 Olympic doubles gold medalists for Switzerland, teamed up again for a 6-2, 6-7 (4), (10-6) victory over Rohan Bopanna of India and Aisam-ul-Haq Qureshi of Pakistan in a match played in the new 8,000-seat Stadium 2.
“I don’t know if it was sold out, but it felt like very, very full,” said Federer, a four-time singles champion at Indian Wells. “You’re not probably going to achieve that on center court (where capacity is 16,100) for a doubles. But that was a perfect setup, a feeling, and we can thank the tournament and (owner) Larry Ellison for building such a court so quickly.
“It’s nice to see the game grow and seeing people coming out and enjoying it. It’s great. I really had a great time out there with Stan today.”
Wawrinka is the Australian Open champion.
“It took me time to realize really what I did in Australian Open,” said Wawrinka, who is the No. 3 seed and could meet No. 7 Federer in the quarterfinals and top-seeded Rafael Nadal in the semifinals. “Still when I’m saying that I won a Grand Slam it’s still strange for me, but that’s why it was good to be home during three weeks. It was good to be with the family, to take more time for myself.
Wawrinka’s second-round opponent will be Ivo Karlovic of Croatia, and Federer will open his title bid against French qualifier Paul-Henry Mathieu. Wawrinka and Federer both will play Saturday afternoon.
On Saturday night, Nadal will take on Radek Stepanek.
Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, Juan Martin del Potro, Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga are the other top-10 players competing in doubles.
Flint Wheeler
Financial Services Professional
Visit www.FlintWheeler.Com
