Indian Wells 2015 Preview & Predictions: March 18

The weekends are fun, but Wednesday may be the most exciting day at the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells. All of the mens round of 16 matches are couples with a couple ladies quarterfinals. The atmosphere changes from tennis all around the grounds to focus on some serious competition. Most of the top contenders for the men’s title are still alive and looking for a sport in the quarterfinals. Read on for previews of the highlighted matches in Wednesday’s order of play.

Feliciano Lopez (ESP) vs. Kei Nishikori (JPN)

STADIUM 1, 11:00am

It’s a classic, old school matchup of serve and volley player versus baseline grinder.

Lopez has had an up and down season. He looked to be playing his best tennis at the Australian Open, but he was stopped in a five set match by Milos Raonic. Against lesser competition, he made the final in Quito, but he lost in the second round of Dubai. It’s surprising for a man from Spain, but Lopez’ best game is the serve and volley. The lefty has an outstanding serve, ranked in the top ten serves on tour. When his serve and volley game is rolling, it takes amazing shots to beat him.

Nishikori is one of the best returners in the game and up to the challenge. The man from Japan is having a very solid year, coming into the tournament with a 16-3 record. There’s been some outstanding tennis from Nishikori, but he has also looked flustered at both Acapulco and Indian Wells, playing with his equipment and trying to find the correct racket tension.

Nishikori leads the head-to-head over Lopez at 3-2. It’s a classic, old school matchup of serve and volley player versus baseline grinder. It won’t be easy, but Nishikori is looking to break through and is a step above Lopez here.

Prediction: Nishikori

Lukas Rosol (CZE) vs. Tomas Berdych (CZE)

Mar 17, 2015; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Tomas Berdych (CZE) during his match against Steve Johnson (USA) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

STADIUM 2, 2nd on

It’s an all-Czech matchup for these two. Rosol is a big player that relies on power. He needs to get a lot of first serves in and have his forehand working to be successful.

Berdych has had a great year, coming into Indian Wells with two semifinal appearances and two final births. He hasn’t lost to anyone outside the top ten, but at this point in his career, he wants to win those tough match ups.

Berdych is a better version of Rosol. The Czech No.1 is a power players that swings easy and the ball jumps off his racket. Berydch has better defensive skills and accuracy and should have no problem with his countryman.

Prediction: Berdych

Gilles Simon (FRA) vs. Rafael Nadal (ESP)

STADIUM 1, 3rd on

Simon is quietly putting together some great results this season. Consecutively, he earn the quarterfinals in Montepelier, the semifinals at Rotterdam, and won the title in Marseille. The Frenchman is a typical counterpunch that gets balls back until his opponents wear down.

Mar 17, 2015; Indian Wells, CA, USA; Rafael Nadal (ESP) during his match against Donald Young (USA) in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Nadal came into this tournament with plenty of questions. He lost his first match of the season and looked lost when Tomas Berdych beat him for the first tim in 18 matches in Melbourne. Nadal started off shaky in the clay court South American swing, but ended with a win in Buenos Aires. Since then he has destroyed both Igor Sijsling and Donald Young. The level of competition rises with Simon. Nadal will face his biggest test since Berdych in Australia.

For Nadal to be successful, he must continue to be aggressive, moving up to the baseline and moving Simon around the court. The type of player that gives Nadal trouble has big power that forces Nadal back. The counterpunching style of Simon won’t cut it.

Prediction: Nadal

Novak Djokovic (SRB) vs. John Isner (USA)

STADIUM 1, not before 8:30pm

Djokovic is the best player on tour on hard courts and he adapts extremely well to the slower paced courts in the California desert. The only blemishes on his 2015 are a loss to Ivo Karlovic and his high serve and a loss to Roger Federer in Dubai. Djokovic hasn’t had trouble with lesser competition in his first two matches, but has struggled in the past with the big American.

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