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Novak Dojokovic & Rafael Nadal Inch Closer to Repeat Final at Indian Wells

ATP Masters Series 1000 - Fourth Round

1 Novak Djokovic d Pablo Andujar - 60 67(5) 62

2 Rafael Nadal d 21 Alexandr Dolgopolov - 63 62

Of course they each need to win 2 more matches - but it seems likely.

Tho Rafa's road is a bit tougher with a Sf against the winner of Fed/DelPo.

I don't think Novak has much to worry about before the final. Isner perhaps?

Remember, it was here last year that Nole began his dominance over Rafa.

They played a table-turning 3 setter - and again (with a thriller) at Miami.

Then they took their rivalry to Madrid, Rome, Wimby and the US Open in '11.

And who can forget the instant classic they produced at the Aussie this year.

7 straight matches with Nole over Rafa. It has to stop somewhere...

Hey Rafa, how about this weekend? K, thanks.

Photos:Reuters

Victoria Azarenka Goes 21-0 on the Year with Quarterfinal Win at Indian Wells

WTA Indian Wells - Quarterfinal

1 Victoria Azarenka d 5 Agnieszka Radwanska - 60 62

At the end of this match Vika actually served to make it a double bagel.

Vika has played 4 tourny's this year and in each she's had to go thru Aga.

No wonder I'm hearing that this one-time friendship has gone frosty.

For Aga's sake hopefully she can draw someone other than Vika's draw.

Vika will face (18) Angelique Kerber in the Sf's - they've never played.

Um... Look for Vika to gain her 5th straight final on the season.

She is starting to enter Novak-esque territory.

Photo: Reuter

Federer Wins 4th Round Thriller at Indian Wells

ATP Masters Series 1000 - Fourth Round

3 Roger Federer d Thomaz Bellucci - 36 63 64

The GOAT had his hands full with the young Brazilian.

Fed snuck thru as he broke in the last game to move in the Qf's.

The 3-time champ ('04-'06) gains his 7th Qf at IW: 6-0.

He'll next face a recently frequent opponent in (9) Juan Martin Del Potro.

They've played 3 times already this year - DelPo has yet to take a set.

The last time tho DelPo managed to take him to 2 tie-breakers in Dubai.

Family man: And how cute is this - the wife and kids were in support.

Photos: Reuters

Ana Ivanovic Sinks the Sinking Caroline Wozniacki at Indian Wells

WTA Indian Wells - Fourth Round

15 Ana Ivanovic d 4 Caroline Wozniacki - 63 62

The '08 Indian Wells champ dethroned the defending champ.

And Ana was jack-knifing that arm all over the place.

She even got her leg in on it too. I haven't seen her this 'jacked' in ages.

But I guess at this point in both careers it was a big scalp.

She'll get (7) Marion Bartoli next.

If she can win it'll be her first significant Sf in 3 years (IW '09 - a win).

Adje, Ana. Adje.

***

As for Caro. Someone needs to find her game.

These days its stuck in a sand trap. (See what I did there?)

Photo: Reuters

Caroline Wozniacki Wins Squeeker at Indian Wells

WTA Indian Wells - Third Round

4 Caroline Wozniacki d Sofia Arvidsson - 36 75 62

Caro was a just few points away from being shown the door.

Yea, I forgot too: She is the defending champion.

It does not feel like she will repeat.

Well, unless everyone catches that bug hitting the Palm Springs area.

Photo: Reuters

Andy Roddick Loses at Indian Wells

ATP Masters Series 1000 - Third Round

7 Tomas Berdych d 30 Andy Roddick - 63 46 62

It's getting hard to watch Andy tumble down the rankings.

He's currently ranked #31 and didn't defend his 4th rounds points here.

I'm afraid he will slip a bit more and may not even be seeded at Miami.

In truth, Andy has struggled with various injuries for about a year.

I'd sure like to see him make a nice push back up the rankings.

He's currently the #3 ranked American behind Mardy Fish and John Isner.

That has to be tough as he spent about a decade as the US #1.

Good luck in Miami.

Photo: Getty Images

Another Earlier Round Loss for Mardy Fish - This Time at Indian Wells

ATP Masters Series 1000 - Third Round

Q Matthew Ebden d 8 Mardy Fish - 63 64

Mardy has yet to win back-to-back match in his 4 tournaments this year.

In fact, you have to go back to Tokyo in Oct for multiple tourny match wins.

Ranking: Mardy heads to Miami with Sf points to defend.

Someone needs to turn things around fast or Isner will be the #1 American.

And soon.

Photo: AP

Christina McHale Downs Petra Kvitova at Indian Wells

WTA Indian Wells - 3rd Round

32 Christina McHale d 3 Petra Kvitova - 26 62 63

This is the 19 year-old's 4th win over a top 10 player.

Christina: It was definitely one of my biggest wins.

Ya think? You just downed the reigning Wimbledon champion girl!

She is looking for her 2nd Qf showing on the season.

To do so she'll need to get thru Angelique Kerber - winnable, surely.

As for Petra, something tells me she'll make more noise in Miami.

Photo: Reuters

Shino Calling Rafa's Match at Indian Wells

The most famous line judge in the world is calling Rafa's match today.

She must like this tournament - no threat of seeing Serena anywhere.

There seems to be a bug going around Indian Wells

2 players have pulled with intestinal trouble: Vania King & Gael Monfils.

Maybe hospital masks are in order on court!

Also, how about we protect the ball kids...

Let the players deal with their nasty sweaty towels on their own.

And not just now - always.

Andy Murray Loses Early at Indian Wells, Again

ATP Masters Series 1000 Indian Wells - 2nd Round

Guillermo Garcia-Lopez d 4 Andy Murray - 64 62

Second straight year Andy's lost in the 2nd round - Donald Young last year.

Since finishing runner-up in '09 his W/L at IW is a dismal 3-3.

Interesting: He's off to Miami where he's lost back-to-back 2nd R'ers as well.

Hats-off: Garcia-Lopez played out-of-his-mind tennis.

That, and Murray couldn't keep very many balls between the lines.

Hmm, something about the California desert not agreeing with him?

Well, he still has doubles with his brother. So yea, there's that.

Photo: Reuters

Ryan Harrison Advances at Indian Wells

ATP Masters Series 1000 Indian Wells - 2nd Round

Ryan Harrison d 25 Viktor Troicki - 76(5) 63

Nice win for Ryan as he moves his W/L on the year to 8-6.

Remember, this was a sort of breakout tourny in '11 as he made the 4th R.

With Murray's loss last night his path to repeat that success got easier.

He'll play Guillermo Garcia-Lopez (Murray's slayer) and oddly enough...

They've played once before: Last year, same tourny, same round, Ryan won.

There's a lot riding on this kid's shoulders. He seems to like it.

So do I.

Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic Play Soccer at Indian Wells

Though I won't make it to Indian Wells this year...

I love hanging out by this field. It's between the courts & locker room.

And spontaneous soccer matches always spring up.

Rafa & Nole are on the same team. Shirts hmph, should be skins!

Photo from On the Go Tennis.

Men's & Women's Draws Set at Indian Wells

Great promo ad guys.

They names were drawn and placed yesterday.

And if I'm being honest I think we should se the top 4 in the Sf's - again.

Djokovic got Murray in his half setting up another (possible) Rafa/Roger sf.

Here are the projected quarterfinals:

1 Novak Djokovic v 7 Tomas Berdych

4 Andy Murray v 8 Mardy Fish

3 Roger Federer v David Ferrer

2 Rafael Nadal v 6 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga

***

And a look at the WTA Qf projections:

1 Victoria Azarenka v 5 Agnieszka Radwanska

3 Petra Kvitova v 8 Li Na

4 Caroline Wozniacki v 7 Marion Bartoli

2 Maria Sharapova v 6 Samantha Stosur

Novak Djokovic Wins Indian Wells ATP Title

Indian Wells ATP Masters Series 1000 Men's Final

3 Novak Djokovic d 1 Rafael Nadal - 46 63 62

Novak won his 3rd title on the year, his 2nd at IW's & his 6th 1000 trophy.

For his 21st career title he beat Rafa for the 1st time in a final.

And Novak remains undefeated on the year.

18-0 baby: He's now chasing Ivan Lendl's record of 25-0 to start a year.

He'll have to win Miami & a couple matches at his next tourney to break it.

But wait there's more: Novak took over from Roger Federer at #2 today.

But there is a scenario that flips them back after Miami.

BTW, Novak has beaten Roger in all 3 of his title runs this year.

Novak & Rafa jetted of to Colombia today for an exo - then off to Miami.

Novak's lil brother Djorjie just tweeted in jest: Rafa: Hello, is this Roger?

Roger:Yeah its me Rafa, what`s up? Rafa:Roger, I think we got a problem!

Roger:I know buddy..trust me I know :-D

Anyway, he is a video of the last of the match & trophy presentations...

Where Novak says for him that Rafa the greatest of all time.

I think Novak just got crossed-off someones Christmas card list.

Caroline Wozniacki Wins WTA Title at Indian Wells

Indian Wells WTA Women's Final

1 Caroline Wozniacki d 15 Marion Bartoli - 61 26 63

Boy after the first set that sure became a highly entertaining match.

The win makes it 2 titles on the year and the 14th of her young career.

This is Caro's 2nd straight Premier Mandatory title - following Beijing '10.

The win also increases her ranking points at #1 by a wider margin over Kim.

Caro: I just love playing matches. I like winning. I like holding the trophy.

As for Marion she moves up to #10 - top 10 for the 1st time since July '08.

Marion: It has been a while since I was in the Top 10.

I really want to be at the Championships at the end of the year.

That's one of my main goals.

Both ladies are headed to Miami and have 1st round byes.

***

Below is Caro's heartfelt tribute to Japan from earlier in the week.

 

Photos: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal & Novak Djokovic to Meet in Final at Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000

Indian Wells ATP Masters Series 1000 - Final Preview

1 Rafael Nadal vs 3 Novak Djokovic - H2H: 16-7/RN

Rafa has won their last two - and all 5 times they've met in a final.

They are split 6-6 in Masters 1000 play and 1-1 at Indian Wells.

On the season Rafa is 12-2 while Novak is unbeaten at 17-0.

This is ought to be a very very fun match.

***

Something they have in common in Masters 1000 finals: Each has 6 losses.

The glaring difference: Rafa has won a record 18 titles, Novak has 5.

The pair will represent the winners of 4 of the last 5 title runs at IW.

Rafa won in '07 & '09, Novak in '08. Ivan Ljubicic won last year.

***

Rafa is looking for his 1st title of the year and 1st since Tokyo in October.

He's looking for his 1st non-clay Masters 1000 title since he won here in '09.

Rafa had lost his last 3 matches to Juan Martin Del Potro...

He turned that around today with a 64 64 win over the returning Argentine.

Make no mistake: Juan Martin is very back.

***

Novak continued his winning streak over Roger Federer today.

He made it 3-in-a-row over Fed with his 63 36 62 victory.

He became only the 4th man to beat Roger 3 times in a single year.

The bad news for Roger: It's only March.

#2: Today's win also moved Novak ahead of Roger in the rankings.

Will this be Novak's year? Tomorrow might hold a telling glimpse.

Photos: Reuters

Novak Djokovic into Semifinals at Indian Wells

Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 - Quarterfinal

3 Novak Djokovic d 18 Richard Gasquet - 62 64

Novak improves his undefeated year to 16-0 - with a loss of only 3 sets.

The '08 champ moves into his 3rd Sf at Indian Wells: 2-0.

This will be Novak's 20th Masters 1000 Sf: 11-8.

He has held up his end of the battle for #2 - it's up to Federer now.

If Fed loses to Stan in the Qf or Novak beats Fed in the Sf's - he'll be #2.

Novak: Confidence plays a very important role in the life of a tennis player.

If you can roll on that run and try to use that confidence,

then you can have a lot of success and you can really play well.

That's what it's all about, my game these days... It's a very mental game.

Photo: Getty Images

Rafael Nadal Wins Thriller Quarterfinal at Indian Wells

Indian Wells ATP Masters 1000 - Quarterfinal

1 Rafael Nadal d Ivo Karlovic - 57 61 76(7)

Most tennis fans knew this would be a close match - but this thrilling?

They engaged in one of those edge-of-your-seaters. Instant classic for sure.

And I don't toss the phrase 'instant classic' around much either.

Rafa: In the tie-break I was really nervous.

I think I returned fantastic in the tie-break,

but I didn't put one first serve on court, so I was really nervous.

Yea, I'll bet his Rafantics were nervous too.

Rafa, winner in '07 & '09, moves into his 6th straight Sf at Indian Wells: 2-3.

This also marks his 35th trip to a Masters 1000 Sf: 24-10.

He will next play Juan Martin Del Potro - H2H: 4-3/RN.

The last match they played was that USO Sf where JMDP whipped Rafa's ass.

In fact, Juan Martin has won their last 3...

***

Jekyll & Hyde: One minute he is a fierce competitor on court...

The next he's just a sweet kid offering you a cookie.

Caroline Wozniacki & Victoria Azarenka Tribute to Japan

Caro & Vika paid tribute to Japan moments ago as they took the court.

Wonderful move ladies.

Photo: Tennis Channel screen-capture. Please don't sue me.