The Indian Wells ATP Tournament

The Tournament was supposed to be played in March at the start of the US hard court matches was cancelled and then changed to be played from 7 to 17 October 2021.   

For the first time in many years neither of Djokovic, Nadal or Federer will play in the upcoming series and it sems like either Medevev or Zverev would be the favourites to win.   

One will have to see what comes up as to th e seedings.   Of the Top 10 ranked players  all three mentioned are missing from the tournament  - while Rublev and  Ruud are in the semi in the San Diego tournment - the semi's being today and the final tommorrow,     The result of this tournment will have no  impact on the actual rankings - but would nevertheless be interesting.

One would feel that the top 6 seedings will be as follows:-

1   Medvedev

2   Tsitsipas

3   Sverev

4   Rublev

5   Berrfettini

6   Ruud

I will post the seedings iro the seeded players when it becomes available.

At last the draw is available  and the following are seeded players:-

1    Danill Medvedev

2    Stefanos  Tsitsipas

3    Alexander Sverev

4    Andrey Rublev

5    Matteo Berrettini

6    Casper Ruud

7    Felix  Auger-Alliassime

8    Hubert Hurkacz

9    Denis Shapovalov

10   Jannik Sinner

11   Diego Schwartsman 

12    Pablo Carrero-Busta

13   Christian Garin

14   Gael Monfils

15   Roberto Bautsta-Agut

16   Reilly Opelka

17   Lorenzo Sengo

18   Daniel Evans

19   Aslan Karatsev

20   John Isner

21   Cameron Norrie

22   Alec de Minaur

23   Grigor Dimitrov

24   Karen Kachanov

25   Fabio Fognini

26   Lloyd Harris

27   Filip Krajinovic

28   Dusan Lajovic

29    Nikoloz Basilashvili

30   Carlos Alcaras

31   Taylor Fritz

32   Sebastian Korda

The 32 seeded players do not play in Round 1 - they all have walkovers in that round.   Once the Round 2 players are all available  I would give the breakdown of whom they are playing,   and also give an indication as to whether the seeded players are in the top or bottom half of the draw.   

ROUND 2 Matches draws

Upper half of the draw

1     Danill  Medvedev                      vs            Mackenzie  McDonald

27   Filip Krajnovic                            vs          Marcos Giron

23   Grigor Dimitrov                        vs             Daniel Altmaier

16    Reilly Opelka                            vs            Taro Daniel

9     Denis Shapovalov                     vs            Vasek Pospisil 

19   Aslan Karatsev                          vs             Salvatore Caruso

32   Sebastian Korda                        vs             Frances Tiafoe

8     Hubert Hurkacz                         vs            Alexei Popirin

4     Andrey Rublev                          vs             Carlos Taberner

28   Dusan Lajovic                            vs            Tommy Paul

21   Cameron Norrie                         vs             Tennys Sandgren

15   Roberto Bautista-Agut               vs            Guido Pella

11    Guido  Schwartzman                 vs            Maxime Cresscy

18    Daniel Evans                              vs            Kei Nishikori

26    Lloyd Harris                               vs            Alejandro Davidovich Fokina

6      Casper Ruud                               vs            Roberto Carballes Baena

Bottom Half of the Draw                    

 5     Matteo Berrettini                         vs          Alejandro Tabilo

31    Taylor Fritz                                  vs          Bernard Nakashima

20     Jo hn Isner                                  vs         Yosihito Nishioka

10     Jannik Sinner                               vs         John Millman\

14     Gael Monfils                                vs         Gianluca Mager

17     Lorenzo Sonego                           vs          Kevin Anderson

30     Carlos Alcazar                              vs         Andy Murray

3       Alexander Sverev                         vs          Jenson  Brooksby

7       Felix Auger-Aliassime                  vs          Albert Ramos-Vinolas        

29     Nikoloz Basilashvili                     vs          Christopher  Eubanks 

24     Karen Kachnov                            vs          Emil Vuusuvuori

12    Pablo Carrero-Busta                      vs          Emilio Gomez

13     Christian Garin                             vs         Ernesto Escobedo

22     Alec de Minaur                             vs         Alesander Vukic 

25      Fabio Fognini                              vs          Jan-Lennard Struff 

2      Stefanos Tsitsipas                           vs         Pedro Martinez

ROUND 3 Matches draws

Upper half of the draw

1     Danill  Medvedev                       vs           27   Filip Krajnovic

 16    Reilly Opelka                            vs           23   Grigor Dimitrov 

9     Denis Shapovalov                       vs           19   Aslan Karatsev

8     Hubert Hurkacz                           vs            Frances Tiafoe

4     Andrey Rublev                            vs            Tommy Paul

 15   Roberto Bautista-Agut               vs            21   Cameron Norrie 

11    Guido  Schwartzman                 vs             18    Daniel Evans

6      Casper Ruud                               vs            26    Lloyd Harris 

Bottom Half of the Draw                    

 5     Matteo Berrettini                         vs            31    Taylor Fritz 

10     Jannik Sinner                               vs         20     John Isner

14     Gael Monfils                                vs          Kevin Anderson

3       Alexander Sverev                         vs         Andy Murray

29     Nikoloz Basilashvili                     vs         Albert Ramos-Vinolas   

12    Pablo Carrero-Busta                      vs          24     Karen Kachanov 

13    Christian Garin                             vs           22     Alec de Minaur 

2      Stefanos Tsitsipas                           vs         25      Fabio Fognini 

The Round 2 games of the upper half of the draw have now been completed.    On the whole -bar for two players the seeded players all won their games.   I watched the Rublev game and he did very well initially by winning the first three games - but then went sour.   He ended up winning the set 6-3 - but he faced a number of break points in the process,   The second set was a similar nightmare performance  - his timing was all out and although he hit 36 winners - he also made 33 unforced errors,   Will have to get his timing right - the series is being played on very fast courts and in his last two series the situation was exactly opposite.  

The Round 2 matches for the bottom half of the draw is to be played today and the final of the 19 matches is likely to end by 08:00 tomorrow.     

ROUND 4 Matches draws

Upper half of the draw

1     Danill  Medvedev                       vs             23   Grigor Dimitrov 

8     Hubert Hurkacz                           vs            19    Aslan Karatsev

21   Cameron Norrie                           vs            Tommy Paul

 6      Casper Ruud                               vs           11    Guido  Schwartzman

Bottom Half of the Draw                    

10     Jannik Sinner                              vs           31    Taylor Fritz      

3       Alexander Sverev                        vs           14     Gael Monfils 

24     Karen Kachanov                          vs          29     Nikoloz Basilashvili   

2      Stefanos Tsitsipas                          vs          22     Alec de Minaur  

This will be updated when the results come out.   I Round 2 there were only 5 seeded players beaten - but that6 could increase to at least another 11 seeded players be out in Round 3.   Some opf the seeded players are meeting unseeded players who performed despite wins in Round 2 whose performances were under-par.     I mentioned Rublev elsewhere - but Berrettini can be added to the list.           

Looking at performances thus far this year I would say in Round 3 the winning or losing of matches are often enough uncertain.   as to Round 3 I would say of the 16 players involved the situation is as follows:-

Certain winners 

Medvedev, Ruud, Sverev and Tsitsipas.

Possible winners

Shapovalov,  Hurkacz, Bererttini

Uncertainties

The rest of the games are all toss-ups 

I thought Rublev  was not up to standard and his loss against Paul was not unexpected.    He seems to lose games because of his wild and irresponsible game when in the lead.   In two  games in of the  third  set he was 15-40 up and lost both games.   His confidence is lacking and he will have to get over it if he wants to remain in the top 10 rankings.        

QUARTERFINALS  LINEUPS

Upper half of the draw

8     Hubert Hurkacz                            vs           23   Grigor Dimitrov  

11    Guido  Schwartzman                   vs           21   Cameron Norrie 

Bottom Half of the Draw                    

3       Alexander Sverev                      vs            31    Taylor Fritz 

2      Stefanos Tsitsipas                      vs             29     Nikoloz Basilashvil

Semifinals Lineups

21   Cameron Norrie                          vs           23   Grigor Dimitrov 

29     Nikoloz Basilashvil                   vs           31    Taylor Fritz 

Something must be amiss with this tournament - the highest seeded player in the tournament  is  Cameron  Norrie seeded at 21.    I read that some comments of the top seeds that the surface is even slower than those of clay courts and the result is mistiming of shots  by most of the players.      For instance the serve speed is on average 20% slower than  normal  and the same with  speed of balls  hit during the game.       

This tournament in the past was always held in March of each year and was not held in March 2020 and  was in October 2021.     Not good for the future of the tournament  since the top players may even stop playing in the tournament if  those conditions remain the same.    

Final Line-up

21   Cameron Norrie                          vs           2 9     Nikoloz Basilashvili

Nikoloz Basilashvili is Georgian name...if he wins it must a first...cannot remember in the past a Georgian tennis player.

Seb

Basilashvili  is a Georgian player and has been around for a few years  and is now ranked no 36 in the world.    Not the type of player  that would win a lot of tournaments.

This series produced  weird results by players that rarely finish in quarterfinals leave alone in the final.    The problem seems to be is that the surface was slow and had uneven bounce favoring slower ball ball hitting.    the players playing speed tennis have all been eliminated.   To give you a practical example - the normal serving players are between 10 and 20 kph faster than the two in the final.    

Did you see how Mozart wrote garbage about Dimitrov doing world cricket a favor by beating Medevedev for once in his life.   How anybody could be that childish because Medvedev beat Djokovic in the US Open Final is really unbelievable.         

Norrie played well and ended up playing in the fnal through a freak set of lo0sses - and he will now move up darastically in the ratings,  

As it happened :

GAME, SET AND MATCH! – NORRIE 3-6 6-4 6-1 BASILASHVILI

He’s done it! Norrie serves it out with ease to win his first Masters 1000 title and becomes first Brit to triumph at Indian Wells.

BREAK! – NORRIE 3-6 6-4 5-1 BASILASHVILI

That’s a shocker of a forehand volley and it gives Norrie the double break. He will now serve for the title.

NORRIE 3-6 6-4 4-1 BASILASHVILI

Two away. Niko keeps hitting huge but he’s not landing the blows he’s hoping for. Norrie keeps him at arm’s length and maintains his advantage.

NORRIE 3-6 6-4 3-1 BASILASHVILI

The title was almost within touching distance. Norrie has the double break point snatched away from him and a sweeping forehand sees Basilashvili through from deuce to get on the board.

NORRIE 3-6 6-4 3-0 BASILASHVILI

What. A. Hold. Norrie battles back from 0-40 to consolidate from deuce. Massive from the soon to be British No.1.

BREAK! – NORRIE 3-6 6-4 2-0 BASILASHVILI

Cam is flying now. His consistency is rattling Niko, who skews a backhand into the tramlines to cough up the early break in Set 3.

NORRIE 3-6 6-4 1-0 BASILASHVILI

Norrie maintains the momentum and hits the front! Can he complete a fine recovery here and gets his hands on that trophy?

SET! - NORRIE 3-6 6-4 BASILASHVILI

Quite sensational! Norrie produces a wonderful stun volley and then a pass up the line on the run to pile on the pressure. Basilashvili keeps going for his shots but misses with a couple of forehands and Cam breaks to take us into a decider!

NORRIE 3-6 5-4 BASILASHVILI

That’s routine and an ideal time to do it. Norrie cranks up the heat and Niko knows any slip now will cost him the set.

NORRIE 3-6 4-4 BASILASHVILI

Cam continues to try and up the ante but his opponent stands firm from deuce to reach parity once more.

NORRIE 3-6 4-3 BASILASHVILI

‘Come on!’ is the shout from Cam as he lures Niko into a tricky volley that he dumps low into the net. It completes a recovery from 15-30 down for the Brit and sees him maintain the scoreboard advantage.

NORRIE 3-6 3-3 BASILASHVILI

That’s a big, big hold. Niko seems to have struggled with a slight increase in the wind and he has to work hard and say patient to fend off another break point and level from deuce.

NORRIE 3-6 3-2 BASILASHVILI

Norrie’s nose is in front. The Brit looked in real trouble but has steadied the ship with a little help from Basilashvili.

BREAK! – NORRIE 3-6 2-2 BASILASHVILI

Niko’s purple patch comes to a resounding halt. A trio of unforced errors off his beast of a forehand offer Cam a much-needed lifeline and he duly breaks back.

BREAK! – NORRIE 3-6 1-2 BASILASHVILI

The match is running away from Norrie now. He races into the net trying to be positive defending another break point but glides a low volley well wide. Basilashvili is a set and a break to the good.

NORRIE 3-6 1-1 BASILASHVILI

The power is just ripping through Cam’s game-plan now. He surges through another confident hold to level with ease.

NORRIE 3-6 1-0 BASILASHVILI

Cam stops the rot and gives it a cool fist pump as he kicks off Set 2 with a much-needed hold to 15.

SET! - NORRIE 3-6 BASILASHVILI

Wow. Basilashvili turns on the after burners at 3-1 down and rattles through five games in a row to take the opener in 30 minutes.

BREAK! – NORRIE 3-5 BASILASHVILI

Norrie swishes his racket several times in frustration as he glides a backhand on the stretch wide on break point. Basilashvili is firmly in the driving seat now and will serve for the set

NORRIE 3-4 BASILASHVIThe momentum has evidently switched the way of the 29-year-old world No.36. He breezes through a love hold to make it three games on the spin.

BREAK! – NORRIE 3-3 BASILASHVILI

Niko finds more venom on the return game and Cam begins to falter. The Georgian snares a break point and the Brit comes unstuck, throwing down a double fault to gift him the break back.

NORRIE 3-2 BASILASHVILI

The pace is rapid out there. Basilashvili looks to have settled more now and gives himself a boost with a hold to 15 that keeps him firmly in contention.

NORRIE 3-1 BASILASHVILI

Norrie is looking so good out there as he emphatically consolidates to love.

BREAK! – NORRIE 2-1 BASILASHVILI

Lift off for Cam! The Brit is as solid as a rock from the baseline and Basilashvili is already looking a tad frustrated. Some rash errors leak off the Georgian’s racket and he pretty much gifts Norrie an early breakthrough.

NORRIE 1-1 BASILASHVILI

Snap. Norrie follows suit with a rapid and rather confident hold to 15.

NORRIE 0-1 BASILASHVILI

Niko makes a solid start as he backs up some strong serving with blistering groundstrokes from the baseline that have been the hallmark of his run here.

‘Dimitrov did world cricket a favour’….oh dear. Pervert let me explain,  cricket is played with a red ball and a flat bat and tennis is played with a yellow ball and strung racquets.