BNP Paribas Open: Rafael Nadal vs. Juan Martin Del Potro - Semi-final Preview
World number one Rafael Nadal of Spain will square off against the 90th ranked Argentine, Juan Martin Del Potro in the semi-final of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California on Saturday night. A thrilling contest
is anticipated as the in-form Argentine steps up to topple the top seed to advance to the semi-final round of the tournament.
The Spaniard recovered very well from a first set slump in the quarter-final against Ivo Karlovic, 5-7, 6-1, 7-6(7), to make it to the semi-finals of the Paribas Open. Del Potro received a walkover against the 25th seed
Tommy Robredo in the quarter-final to reach the round of four at Indian Wells.
Nadal and Del Potro have faced each other on seven prior occasions, with the Spaniard leading the head-to-head record by 4-3. However, it is worth noting that the Argentine has defeated Nadal in last three of their encounters.
It can be commented that Del Potro had devised his ways to overcome the top seed Spanish and might extend his winning streak to 4 against Nadal at Indian Wells.
Observing the trends of the encounters between the two competitors, some vital deductions can be concluded. Nadal defeated the Argentine in their first four meetings, three in 2007 and one at the BNP Paribas Open quarter-finals
in 2009. The first three loses Del Potro suffered were all in the initial rounds of the tournaments, hinting that the Argentine needs time to get settled and then builds up his pace in the later parts of the tournament. Once he gets through the initial rounds
of an event, Del Potro may well end the campaign with bagging the title.
Del Potro’s record against Nadal in the quarter-finals and semi-finals is very impressive. Apart from the 2009 BNP Paribas Open quarter-final, the Argentine has always defeated the top seed Spaniard in the finals. He first defeated
Nadal at the quarter-final of the 2009 Sony Ericsson Open and then again at the Tennis Masters Montreal quarter-final the same year. Del Potro cut his record deficit against Nadal to 3-4 in their last meeting at the semi-final of the 2009 US Open; clearly
indicating that the 90th ranked Argentine is one of the toughest opponents to compete in big matches.
The last three consecutive victories over the world number one will certainly boost the confidence of Del Potro to higher levels but the pressure of competing against the best player in the world is always very demanding. Nadal
hasn’t won an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) title in the running year and was ejected off the Australian Open in the quarter-final by his fellow compatriot, David Ferrer. On the other hand, Del Potro recently won Delray Beach International Championships
where he defeated Janko Tipsarevic to enter the winners circle.
With an ATP title victory in his last tournament and three consecutive wins over the world number one certainly suggests that Del Potro has a vital edge over Nadal. However, the top seed Spaniard is proclaimed to be one of the
greatest tennis champions in the history of the game. Although he hasn’t win an ATP title in the current season, the left-handed Nadal is the toughest competitor on a tennis court. No matter what the outcome will be, it is sure to be a thriller to watch the
two players battle it out for a berth in the final of the BNP Paribas Open.
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