Sela has never lost to Robredo (3-0 H2H) and prefers to play on hardcourt, where as Robredo is more comfortable on the clay. Robredo is the higher-ranked out of the 2 but it seems Sela has the game to trouble Robredo (just like Nadal’s loopy topspin forehand is Federer’s backhands worst nightmare). Sela had a good win over Stepanek last round so his confidence should be on the up and Robredo has never really troubled him, only losing 1 set in their 3 matches so far.

Soderling has been playing well lately but all his wins have come indoors, his last match against Korolev was his first win on an outdoor hardcourt this year. Lopez leads the H2H for these 2 players 4-3, and their last match was on hardcourt in Shanghai last year which Lopez won in 2 sets. Soderling will struggle in the heat of the Californian desert as he much prefers playing indoors so he will probably come out firing to try and finish it quick. This will be a tough match especially if Soderling wins the first set but if Lopez can grab that opening set then this will be over in a flash.

This has to be the best value bet of the round. Stosur has a 3-2 (2-0 on hardcourt) lead in the H2H, has won their last 3 matches and has not lost to Zvonareva since 2004. Zvonareva, I admit, has been playing well lately, winning in Thailand and playing some good matches in Dubai (handing Flipkens a double bagel in the process) but we all know how mentally fragile she is and knowing that she has lost her last 3 and not beaten Stosur for 6 years will definitely be a factor.

Stosur to take this in 2 easy sets.

Looks like Molik is well on her way back to the form that took her to the top 20, not quite there yet but certainly better than her 130+ ranking suggests. These 2 met only a few weeks ago in Dubai and Molik caused quite an upset winning in 3 sets. It was Zheng’s first match in a month but since then she has been a bit hot and cold and Molik has been in great form especially in the previous round where she only lost 2 games.

H2H between the 2 currently stands at 4-3 Berdych but even more importantly is the record on hardcourts, 2-1 in favour of Berdych. I would say Berdych is in slightly better form coming into this match, losing 2 tight TBs to Roddick at San José and losing in 2 sets to the in-form Gulbis at Memphis. Verdasco did win the San José but since then his form has been a little indifferent.

The last meeting between these 2 went down to the wire, with Verdasco edging out Berdych in 3 tight sets but today I see Berdych getting his own back taking out the Spaniard in 3.

Wow, I can safely say that I would auction off the name of my first-born child (jks) to get this close to Fed and Sampras. I would’ve imagined a bigger crowd but I guess you needed to be staying at the resort to be there… still, if I had known I would’ve charged the Amex faster than Pete would be reaching for the Rogaine!

Flipkens has just recently beaten Wozniak in Hobart in January, and I’m sure that still will be on both players minds. Wozniak has not been in the best from on hard court this year, even though it is her favoured surface. She has won only 2 matches on hard court this year, and 1 of them was through a retirement! Flipkens on the other hand has been in decent form winning a handful of matches in Dubai so she should come into this match with confidence.

Molik is coming off a long layoff but looks to have gotten her groove back somewhat, beating Jie Zheng in 3 sets at Dubai a few weeks back. She has had some bad losses too (1-6, 1-6 to Suarez Navarro) but in any case she should be able to take care of Garrigues who had a lower back injury a few weeks ago and may not be back to 100% fitness yet. Molik on her day is definitely a top 20 player and her attacking game can overcome Garrigues’ counterpunching style.

You can count the number of matches Nalbandian has played this year on 1 hand, and you would have to go back to May 2009 in Estoril to have seen the Argentine in competitive action. His ranking has dropped to the mid-100′s, admittedly he is definitely a better player than his current ranking states but not yet, not so soon after a long break with injury. His last outdoor hardcourt match was last year in Miami, and when Miami is the tournament straight after Indian Wells, that is pretty much a 1-year gap.

Koubek isn’t a great player but more importantly for this match, he is match-fit and has been playing regularly. I see Koubek getting though this one in 2 sets, first set will be tight, close enounter then he will sail through the 2nd set as Nalbandian starts to tire.

So, let’s get on with it…