“Group of Death” still intact as Federer, Nadal and others advance in Indian Wells – By: Ricky Dimon

Written by: on 13th March 2017
"Group of Death" still intact as Federer, Nadal and others advance in Indian Wells - By: Ricky Dimon  |

By Ricky Dimon

Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Roger Federer, Juan Martin Del Potro, Nick Kyrgios, and Alexander Zverev all advanced at the BNP Paribas Open on Sunday and all six did so without dropping a single set.

Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Guido Pella of Argentina during their match at the 2017 BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California, USA, 12 March 2017. EPA/MIKE NELSON

The result is what should be a wildly entertaining week in the bottom quarter of the draw. A showdown between Djokovic and Del Potro is already assured, as is an intriguing battle featuring Kyrgios and Zverev. Nadal and Federer, meanwhile, are one more win apiece away from a fourth-round collision in what would be a rematch of the recent Australian Open final–won by the 35-year-old Swiss in five sets.

Djokovic and Del Potro did not have too much trouble setting up their Tuesday contest. The second-ranked Serb held off Kyle Edmund 6-4, 7-6(5) on Sunday evening after the underdog Brit served for set two at 5-3. Del Potro beat fellow Argentine Federico Delbonis 7-6(5), 6-3.

“I think I played very well in the first set,” Djokovic assessed. “(The) second set was obviously up and down. But credit to Kyle for playing some really aggressive tennis. He made a lot of winners in the beginning and midway through the second. There was not much wrong I did. I did miss some forehands, but other than that it was a very solid match–good, quality tennis; a good test. I’m just pleased with the overall performance.

“I’m playing Del Potro now. I have to give it all; that’s what it takes to beat this guy, who is–even though he is not ranked as high and he hasn’t played that many tournaments–definitely one of the best players in the world last year. He’s tough player to beat. (This is) definitely not the draw that you like early in the tournament and that you wish for, but it is what it is.”

Federer’s draw may get tough in the near future, but it was nothing of the sort on Sunday night. The 18-time major champion breezed past 36-year-old Stephane Robert 6-2, 6-1 in 51 minutes.

“I thought the match went really well,” Federer noted. “I’m very pleased how it went.”

Federer will face Steve Johnson on Tuesday, while Nadal has a date with fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco. The world No. 6 beat another lefty, Guido Pella, 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday afternoon.


Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.

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