It turned out that everyone else in Indian Wells was playing for second place, given the dominance of Roger Federer. But with Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafael Nadal, Nick Kyrgios, Alexander Zverev, and Juan Martin Del Potro all packed into the same quarter of that draw, second place–and third, and fourth–was wide open.
The Miami Open–first place included–should be even more up for grabs, especially with Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic out due to elbow injuries. That means Indian Wells runner-up Stan Wawrinka is the No. 1 seed ahead of Kei Nishikori, Milos Raonic, and Federer.
Another tough quarter awaits Federer and Del Potro in Miami, where they could go head-to-head in the third round. It would not be unfair to argue that the winner of that possible showdown will go on to take the title, although Del Potro would likely have a hard time backing up an upset of Federer by beating Roberto Bautista Agut in the next round.
Elsewhere in the top half of the bracket, Wawrinka is in a section that also includes Kyrgios, Zverev, David Goffin, and John Isner.
On the other side, potential quarterfinal showdowns are Nishikori vs. Marin Cilic and Raonic vs. Nadal. A rematch of an Australian Open semifinal thriller–won by Nadal–could see the Spaniard go up against Grigor Dimitrov in the fourth round. Dimitrov is 17-3 this season with losses only to Nadal, Goffin, and Sock (all in final sets).
Intriguing first-rounders include Donald Young vs. Dustin Brown, Fabio Fognini vs. Ryan Harrison, and Benoit Paire vs. Martin Klizan, Kyle Edmund vs. Jared Donaldson, Alexandr Dolgopolov vs. Malek Jaziri, and Nikoloz Basilashvili vs. Tommy Robredo.
Seeds who could lose their opening match:
(18) John Isner–vs. Thomas Bellucci. Isner is not in good form, has never fared well against lefties, and Bellucci would basically have home-court advantage in Miami even though this is technically in the United States.
(22) Sam Querrey–vs. Nikoloz Basilashvili. Querrey recently captured a stunning title in Acapulco. He will be content with that result for at least a few months.
(27) David Ferrer–vs. Karen Khachanov or Diego Schwartzman. This is the beginning of the end for Ferrer, whose disappearance from the top of the rankings is becoming more and more obvious with each tournament.
(30) Joao Sousa–vs. Fabio Fognini or Ryan Harrison. Sousa is tougher mentally than either of his two potential second-round opponents, but the discrepancy in sheer talent level may be too much to overcome.
(32) Paolo Lorenzi–vs. Adrian Mannarino. Lorenzi shouldn’t be seeded; and he wouldn’t be if not for the withdrawals of Djokovic, Murray, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and others. Mannarino is a crafty fast-court player who often does well in Miami.
Predictions
Quarterfinals: Nick Kyrgios over Alexander Zverev, Dominic Thiem over Roberto Bautista Agut, Grigor Dimitrov over Milos Raonic, and Lucas Pouille over Fernando Verdasco
Semifinals: Kyrgios over Thiem and Dimitrov over Pouille
Final: Dimitrov over Kyrgios
[polldaddy poll=9701254]
who ya got?
Federer. Hard to pick against him until he loses
Fed is the man! I gotta go with him over Rafa in the final. Cream rise to the top.
Fed not making the QF? what is this guy smoking…
he is 50 years old and tired
that being said, if he beats Del Potro, he will win the tournament
Then you should have picked him.
Easy win.
I like the Dimitrov pick….he looked great at IW, but my vote still goes to Fed, GOAT!!!
Finally you pick Dimi for a tournament, he is the one and he gonna do it
Comooooon Dimi
Fed will win title if he beats Delpo
A struggling #TBT #Nole1.0 has won last two vs #Delpo0.5.
I just hope that you not comparing #GOAT2.0 with struggling #Nole0.5.
Don’t you? Or do you.
I haven’t picked Rafa to win any tournament this year yet, but as I’ve already said on another post, I am actually picking Rafa to FINALLY win Miami. If we get another Fed/Rafa final, there’s a chance I will have to rethink this pick depending on their respective forms going into said final. However, I personally don’t think the Fed will make it to the final here, mainly because the IW/Miami double is one of the most physically challenging feats in tennis, and I just feel like it could be too big of an ask for a 35 year old especially in the really humid, heavy conditions of Miami… That being said, NOTHING will surprise me about Fed anymore. So if he were to actually pull off Miami, I wouldn’t be that surprised after all!
I think that Canada/Cincy feat is even tougher to do, as only two players did it ten years apart. This IW/Miami feat seems not so rare when many players did/do it and some did it multiple times, e.g. Djoko (4 times), Fed (twice). You have four weeks to win 12 matches (for seeded players) whilst Canada/Cincy you have two weeks to win 10 matches (for seeded players).
I agree with lucky regarding the Canada/Cincy feat being tougher than the IW/Miami feat for the reasons she stated. No need to repeat it, because I think she covered it.
Who said anything about the Canada/Cincinnati double not being extremely rare? Simply stating that the IW/Miami is not an easy feat. Many great players have not been able to do it. Only 7 male players EVER have done it, and the only two guys who have done it more than once are two of the most accomplished hardcourt players ever… I wouldn’t describe that as a feat that “many players” have done. 🙂 Just because the US Open series double is very rare and difficult, it doesn’t mean that the IW/Miami double is not a very impressive feat, especially given the extreme heat at both tournaments and the humidity of Miami.
Something seems to have struck a nerve with you when I mentioned the IW/Miami double… I know you are not intending to sound a unfairly biased, luckystar. But when I mentioned this historically difficult feat, that just happens to be one of the only feats that Rafa has yet to achieve, your reaction was to immediately defend the even more rare double that Rafa has achieved, which I never even mentioned in my comment. I never even said that the IW/Miami double was the harder than the US Open one…
Rafa being only one of a few guys (Roddick and Rafter the only I can think of) to ever win the US Open series double (AND the US Open itself!) is an absolutely incredible achievement. And yes, one could argue that it is even more impressive than the other hardcourt double. It’s still ok to admit that the IW/Miami double is a very impressive feat! 🙂 I know that you didn’t like it when I said something like this the other day, and I’m sorry. But you’ve got to understand that when you respond like you did to my comment about the Sunshine double simply being difficult, especially for a 35 year old Federer, what else am I supposed to think?
That’s why I couldn’t pick old Fed to win Miami. But I see Benny G doesn’t have a problem picking Fed to do the IW/Miami double. We’ll see! Especially I don’t think Fed will beat Rafa in the final…but I’m not good at picking the brackets lately. 2017 has been tough to pick. Lots of changes going on.
Ratcliff- who is the woman in your photo?? I’ve been trying to figure it out because she looks so familiar, but I just can’t put my finger on it!
She’s Catherine Bellis: young, talented and hopefully bringing the single-mindedness to her sport of tennis in the same way young Mikaela Shiffrin brought to her craft of Alpine Slalom and Giant Slalom ski racing! 🙂
We shall see. Chris Evert is her mentor. Cici appears to be mentally rock solid but you never know. right.
Kevin, it more like my post had struck a nerve in you! I was just stating a simple fact, that more players (7 right?) had done the sunshine feat, over three or four weeks, so according to me, that’s really not that rare!
If I want to talk about Rafa, I would have mentioned his clay court prowess! ( I don’t even want to go there!)
It turns out that you’re the one being so sensitive; you’re the one who keeps thinking about Rafa and his fans reaction; I mean not everyone has to agree with you right?
You mentioned that Fed and Djoko being the two best HC players, so all the more it’s not something rare for them to achieve the sunshine doubles more than once! The funny thing is, being the two best HC players, until now they still haven’t won Canada/Cincy B2B all these years, even when they came close (Fed in 2007/2014; Djoko in 2011/2012).
So, my point still stands, that it’s rare to win the Canada/Cincy double(Cincy is also hot and humid, and many times European players wilt in the heat and humidity during the days there, whilst Fed was always given the night slot). It’s no wonder one player won in 2003 and it took ten years for another to do it again in 2013. In between the two greatest HC players of this era had almost done it, twice each.
Oh I shortchanged Fed, he came close too in 2010, lost the final at Canada to Murray.
Rafa has certainly found the best sunshine double more difficult than Canada and Cincy.
Wasn’t Kevin’s point. Lucky just likes to play down #GOAT2.0”s achievements and play up Rafa’s.
But that’s fan bias for you.
Rafa is not the HC goat, nobody expect him to win the sunshine double. Some people just like to link everything back to Rafa.
Aren’t we comparing HCs at various venues and looking at the difficulties at winning them? What’s wrong with comparing the sunshine doubles against the Canada/Cincy double? Or must I always agree with what others have to say, when I truly disagree?
Isn’t this too much? Why everything has to link back to Rafa? Or people here are just too sensitive?? Certainly I do not appreciate people accusing me of anything, Hawkeye in particular. Hawkeye, I posted in an earlier post that we do not see eye to eye, and wanted you to skip my post and I to skip yours. So please leave my posts alone and I will not respond to any of your post, this being the last time. Thank you!
Sorry lucky but once one creates a reputation right or wrong, it is hard to shake so the perception here is that you dragged Rafa into this (who finds it harder to win the sunshine double as he’s never done it).
And there is nothing wrong with comparing HC venues. Nobody said so.
I do agree that bias or no, Cincy/Canada IS the tougher double. Just not sure of the point so the only point that seems obvious is that Rafa did one and not the other.
I responded to that offer. I am free to respond within forum rules and will continue to do so. It is you who went against your own statement that you were going to skip mine which you haven’t.
By your own admission, you would be better off if you did I suspect.
Maybe I should have let sleeping dogs lay, lucky. I resisted saying anything for a while, but I decided to just tell you anyway just to let you know how your response comes off to someone who is neutral. I won’t say anything about it again.
You’re absolutely right that I sensitive about my posts. I have trouble letting it slide when I feel like someone is misconstruing my comments. For example, I never said Fed and Djokovic are “the two best hardcourt players”. That’s something that is, and always will be debatable, depending on how you define “the best”. I said that they are “two of the most accomplished hardcourt players ever”. I specifically made sure to say “two of” the best because Agassi has also won a very large amount of hardcourt titles. These kinds of things shouldn’t be a big deal, but they are for me. It’s important to me that people understand what I’m saying. This why I felt the need to point out that I never even mentioned the IW/Miami double being any more or less difficult than the other double… I’m sorry.
Bang on Kev. Give as good as you get.
If it’s too hot in the kitchen, stay out of the fire.
Ok Kevin, point accepted. But, I have to disagree that IW/Miami are that difficult to win, considering the fact that out of 30+ times played since the open era, the IW/Miami B2B feat was done eleven times, i.e. > 30%, which to me it’s a lot of times.
Also please don’t be so sensitive, not everything is about Rafa, I’m just stating a fact, that the Canada/Cincy feat is more difficult to achieve, as since the open era, it’s being achieved only five times, i.e. about 10% of the times and each time done by a different player.
I’m just comparing B2B HC tournaments and there are only two of such ( Shanghai and Paris are not B2B).
Kevin, the basic premise of my previous post is that I DO NOT AGREE with you that IW/Miami is that difficult to win and I followed with the reasons for saying so, e.g. 12 matches over 4 weeks, compared to other B2B tournaments of 10 matches over 2 weeks (of Canada/Cincy for e.g., this also B2B events for comparison purposes. I could also bring up Madrid/Rome B2B but that’s on clay so I think that’s not a good comparison).
It is DEFINITELY difficult. Only seven people on the planet have ever done it.
I understand fully understand your intentions, lucky. I do not question them at all. I just felt compelled to let you know that when someone makes a comment saying that they think Federer will struggle to win the proven-difficult the Sunshine Double at his age, and your response is “The Canada/Cinci double is even harder!”, even though I personally believe that you do not intend to sound biased, it could appear to other people that you perhaps struggle to discuss anything Federer-related without feeling the need to defend Rafa in a reactionary way.
I understand that you’re unable to see it, because that’s how biases work! I am certain that I do it sometimes with politics (I am quite left-leaning), as well as with my all-time favorite player, Andre Agassi. Everyone does it sometimes. Almost all of your comments do not have what I am talking about! It’s just something I noticed in a couple of your comments regarding Federer-related things. Maybe I shouldn’t have said anything and just kept my mouth shut… But like I said before, I struggle to not speak up. I wished at that moment I could just email you about it instead of commenting about it on here.
If it were August right now and Cincinnati was about to start, and Rafa had just won the 2017 Rogers Cup, and I made a comment saying that I thought Rafa would struggle to win Cincinnati as well because that double is really difficult for someone his age, and a very pro-Federer person responded with, “The Sunshine double is harder than the Canada/Cinci double…”, I would think the exact same thing. And I do see things like that a lot!
#Boom
#DropsMic
#NailedIt
Nishikori is a US Open finalist who made the final of Canada and Miami in the last 12 months, yet he’s rarely mentioned as an elite hard court player. Got the easiest quarter. Djokovic, Murray absent. Kei lives in South Florida. Time for him to bag a Masters 1000 title.
not sure his body can withstand 6 matches
he lost to Sock in Indian Wells, which is not good
QF:
Kyrgios over Stanimal
Fed over Thiem
Rafa over Sock
Nishikori over Harrison
SF:
Fed over Kyrgios
Rafa over Nishikori
Final:
Fed over Rafa
QF
Kei over Pouille
Rafa over Sock
Delpo over Thiem
Goffin over Sascha
SF
Rafa over Kei
Delpo over Goffin
F
Delpo over Rafa
I don’t think Delpo can go far even if he were to beat Fed. I see Thiem going far here as the court is slow and suits his grinding but big hitting game. I pick Thiem vs Kygrios or Stan SF; and Rafa vs Kei SF. Not going to pick the finalists let alone the winner.
Well, I’d love to pick Kyrgios or Thiem but both have yet to impress me in a 1000 point tournament. Stan I think will go out earlier than at IW. Fed, I can’t see him accomplishing the IW/Miami double. He definitely can beat my pick Delpo tho! Rafa may well win…I had to take him to the final and I think Kei won’t beat Rafa here.
That said, this is also known as the South American Slam. So…unlikely, but Delpo over Rafa or vice versa.
Only one who has a great shot beating #GOAT2.0 in Miami (other than a complete upset a la Donskoy) is #Rafa.
Everyone else has 50% less chance.
lol, you are pretty far gone OTT for Fed these days. 😀
Agree tho #Rafa
Not really rc.
Just observing.
#GOAT2.0’s results speak for themselves three months into the season.
Three months into the season is still too soon to get so carried away. A LOT can happen.
Hahahah Harrison is on the verge of losing and I picked him to make the quarters come on Ryan hang in there bro!!
😀 Fognini made it! I suspected Fabio would be up for Miami for a couple rounds.
rc,
I am with you. It’s way too early to get carried away. Who would have thought last year that after Novak won RG, he would get knocked out of Wimby by Querrey in the early rounds. He would lose in the USO final to Stan and end up losing the # 1 ranking to a resurgent Murray who played some of his best tennis to win Wimby again and finally be #1 at the end of the year.
Fed has had a stronger start, but there is a lot of tennis still to be played.
Thanks Nny!
That’s what I’m saying. Fed has had a strong start but it’s a long way – still: 3 of the 4 GS’s — and over 7.5 of the 9 masters 1000 are left. Miami is not a done deal!
Who says Miami is a done deal? Who says Fed’s got a lock on YE No. 1?
#Strawman
I don’t see Fed losing to del Potro. If he loses in his half, it will be to Kyrgios. On the other side, my pick is either Dimitrov or Sock as the surprise finalist. Either Fed or Kygrios wins the title over either Dimi or Sock.
He won’t.
#Delpo0.5 is too one dimensional to bother this #GOAT2.0, tired or no.
HK,
I do not come often here, but I find your posts hilarious.
Aw shucks Dory.
#Humb1e
The one time I decide to post my tip of the spear picks and what do I get? hahahaha….
Delpo troubling top players is one thing but against Fed it will be totally different. The other top players are mostly defensive and therefore they have faced problems with Delpo’s powerful forehand and against Fed he will face all sorts of problem.
possibly
probably
It is rare to do the Canada / Cincy double, i believe only two players achieved that Roddick was one, although i dont know if he won the USO in the same year ?, and Rafa in 2013 where he also won the USO, no fan worship from me just facts, and hes been the only player to go unbeaten in a season on grass in 2008, on clay in 2010, and the American HC swing in 2013 ….
I think Roddick did win the USO in 2003.
I think what Djoko did in winning AO/IW/Miami was truly impressive. He won that thrice – 2011, 2015, 2016 – to me he’s the goat on HCs. He’s just two HC slams behind Fed, one WTF behind but at 22 HC Masters vs Fed’s 19, I think it’s a matter of time he will catch up on the HC slams and WTF.
What Djoko did in2015 was unbelievable, reaching all finals after losing early at Doha, was no.1 in ranking points on HCs, grass and clay! Not even Fed or Rafa could do that during their peak. The only flaw was not winning the FO that year. His ranking points on the HC that year top anyone else in any season in a decade.
Alison,
Bravo! I agree with you! I take exception to this idea that it’s about fan worship for Rafa and somehow glorifying his achievemects over those of other players.
For myself, I have never had a problem giving credit to other players for their achievements. I remember saying that is winning the North American Summer Slam we easy, then more players would have done it. It is a singular achievement that stands on its own.
Luckystar no argument from me there, thats the whole reason i dont really care or buy into all things GOAT, as theres too many different caveats to that particular topic, the top players all have their own specific areas in greatness, some have even put Conners in there with his career wins and titles ….
Nope. There is a GOAT. Undisputable.
Only disputable as to who it is.
Fed will remain favourite in all his matches, he will streamroll till semis and then there could be two tough matches and even though anything can happen but he is very confident right now and that should get him through his next title.
Thanks NNY 😉 ….
To add ive never put other players down in favour of Rafa ….
Bold*
But you’ve put down Rafa in favour of other players.
#JustAskGiles
My Predictions:
Quarterfinals:
Dimitrov beats Raonic
Wawrinka beats kegrios
Federer beats Thiem
Nishikori beats whoever he faces
Semifinal:
Federer beats Wawrinka
Dimitrov beats Nishikori
Final:
Federer beats Dimitrov
One more bild prediction:
Federer will win Miami without loosing a set.
Bold*