Federer-Ljubicic Meeting Ahead at Indian Wells, Henin to Play Miami

Posted on March 9, 2005

Indian Wells Preview: Federer Attempts Back-to-Back Titles

Last year's Indian Wells was one of three Masters Series titles for Roger Federer, in addition to Hamburg and Canada, which when coupled with his three slam titles at the Australian Open, Wimbledon and the US Open made for one of the most dominating seasons in the Open Era.

This year Federer has shown few signs of being slowed, with three titles at Doha, Dubai and Rotterdam entering this week's first Masters Series event of 2005.

The world No. 1 is joined by the Top 17 on the ATP Rankings (No. 18 Nicolas Massu is still out with injury) in Indian Wells, with the other Top 8 seeds comprised of two-time I.W. champion Lleyton Hewitt, Andy Roddick looking to bury his Davis Cup woes, Marat Safin looking for a good time, Guillermo "El Fragile" Coria, Tim Henman hoping to put his back-injury problems behind him, Carlos Moya looking to not answer questions about blowing off the Davis Cup then watching the defending champs Spain go out in the first round, and the coming-off-injury Gaston Gaudio.

In all, 32 players are seeded at Indian Wells, with all receiving first-round byes, which doesn't stop the first- and second-round match-up madness.

Early-round match-ups of note in the top half of the draw are Mardy Fish vs. Jan-Mike Gambill in an all-American (winner to face (1) Federer), (19) Mario "Baby Goran" Ancic vs. Tomas "I Beat Federer in 2004" Berdych in a potential second rounder, (10) David Nalbandian vs. rising countryman Juan "The Principality" Monaco in a potential 2nd rd., Max "The Beast" Mirnyi vs. Xavier "X-Man" Malisse in an all-unseeded (winner to face a potential gift vs. (8) Gaudio), (22) Juan Ignacio Chela vs. 2003 Masters Cup qualifier Rainer "Shine" Schuettler in a potential 2nd, wildcard Gael "Force" Monfils of France vs. American Jeff "Baby Krajicek" Morrison (winner to face (12) Tommy Robredo, (18) Mikhail Youzhny vs. veteran Thomas Enqvist in a potential 2nd, and (6) Henman vs. American wildcarded teen Donald Young (if "The Donald" can get past a qualifier in his opener).

Match-ups to look for in the bottom half include (7) Moya vs. Spanish countryman and former No. 1 Juan Carlos Ferrero in a blockbuster potential 2nd rd., (24) Feliciano "F-Lo" Lopez vs. the winner of "Dr." Ivo Karlovic and Julien "United Colors of" Benneteau, American wildcard James Blake vs. Spain's Al Martin (winner gifted with a meeting vs. the coming-off-injury (15) Nikolay Davydenko, punter alert), (17) Fernando "Gonzo" Gonzalez vs. "Grinning" Greg Rusedski in a potential 2nd. rd. service throw-down, (21) Andrei Pavel vs. beleaguered Aussie wildcard Mark Philippoussis (if Flipper can bypass a qualifier in his opener), Davis Cup non-hero (16) Tommy Haas vs. French Davis Cup hero Paul-Henri Mathieu in a potential 2nd, (28) Dominik "The Dominator" Hrbaty in a tricky second vs. veteran Sjeng Schalken or doubles net-crusher Michael Llodra, and in a final potential 2nd rd. match-up, the renewed rivalry (the Aussie once blanked him 0-and-0) of (2) Hewitt vs. American Robby "Baby Courier" Ginepri.

Potential fourth-round match-ups to look for are (1) Federer vs. (13) Ivan "The Yank Killer" Ljubicic renewing their rivalry, (7) Moya vs. (11) Joachim "The Jackhammer" Johansson, (3) Roddick vs. (17) Gonzo (who bounced A-Rod at last year's Olympics), (5) El Fragile vs. (9) Andre Agassi, and (2) Hewitt vs. (16) Haas.

Potential quarterfinal encounters include (1) Federer vs. the Swiss nemesis (10) Nalbandian, (4) Safin vs. (6) Henman, (3) Roddick vs. (11) The Jackhammer in a US Open rematch, and (2) Hewitt vs. (9) Agassi.

Returning champions on the men side are Federer (2004), Hewitt (2003-02), Agassi (2001), and Philippoussis (1999).

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