i.e. Nadal and Tommy Robredo beat Federer and Yves Allegro in 2004 in Indian Wells and in 2007, Nadal and Carlos Moya defeated Federer and Wawrinka on clay in Rome.  However, tonight at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California, Federer and Wawrinka were too tough winning 7-5, 6-3.  It was a tight and entertaining doubles match with lots of unusual court positions which have become common in men’s doubles, i.e. the Aussie/I formation for serving and three players at the baseline with one at net.  In the end, although doubles is definitely a “team effort”, it was actually Nadal who “blinked” in both the first set when he double faulted twice in losing his service game to lose the set and he also missed a tough volley off a blasted backhand from Wawrinka on break point down on Lopez’s serve.  

Neither Federer nor Nadal has played a lot of doubles during their careers.  Nonetheless, Nadal has collected seven doubles titles (five on hard courts and two on clay) with three different partners, including one title every year since 2009 including earlier this year.  Federer has won eight career doubles titles with five different partners on four different surfaces, but none since the 2008 Olympics.  Saturday night, Federer will play for his ninth career doubles title in one of the best doubles draws ever!

Posted by TC at 10:29 PM |