Tennis Atlantic 2015 ATP Draw Challenge Week 9/10 (Indian Wells)
Staff, Tennis Atlantic

The Masters 1000 event in Indian Wells is the only tournament for the next couple of weeks, the worlds best take to the hard courts of the California desert, and here are our analysts predictions as to what the results will be. Joining us this week and for the rest of the season is our new writer Joe Craven, who will be adding his 2 cents to the discussion. A big welcome to Joe, and without further adieu, here are the picks.

Steen Kirby predictions:

Round 2 matches: Djokovic vs. Baghdatis, Troicki vs. Benneteau, Isner vs. Melzer, Lajovic vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Monaco, Kokkinakis vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Coric, Dodig vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Kukushkin, Becker vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Mannarino, Groth vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Matosevic, De Bakker vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Thiem, Harrison vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Bolelli, Dolgopolov vs. Giraldo, Robredo vs. Brown, Kyrgios vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Ito, Estrella vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Young, Krajinovic vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Bolt, Klizan vs. Rosol, Karlovic vs. Johnson, Stakhovsky vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Krajicek, Lu vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Youzhny, Janowicz vs. Federer
Round 3 matches: Djokovic vs. Troicki, Isner vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Becker, Mannarino vs. Groth, Lopez vs. De Bakker, Verdasco vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Dolgopolov, Robredo vs. Kyrgios, Simon vs. Gasquet, Young vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Klizan, Johnson vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Federer
Round of 16 matches: Djokovic vs. Anderson, Garcia-Lopez vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Mannarino, Lopez vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs Kyrgios, Gasquet vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Federer
Quarterfinals: Djokovic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Federer
Semifinals: Djokovic vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Federer
Final: Djokovic vs. Federer
Champion: Djokovic

Niall Clarke’s predictions

Round 2 matches: Djokovic vs. Baghdatis, Troicki vs. Benneteau, Isner vs. Melzer, Lajovic vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Monaco, Kokkinakis vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Coric, Dodig vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Kukushkin, Smyczek vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Mannarino, Groth vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Matosevic, Nieminen vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Thiem, Harrison vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Bolelli, Dolgopolov vs. Giraldo, Robredo vs. Golubev, Kyrgios vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Jaziri, Estrella vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Young, Sijsling vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Haase, Klizan vs. Rosol, Karlovic vs. Johnson, Stakhovsky vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Krajicek, Lu vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Youzhny, Janowicz vs. Federer
Round 3 matches: Djokovic vs. Troicki, Isner vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Groth, Lopez vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Dolgopolov, Robredo vs. Kyrgios, Simon vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Klizan, Johnson vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Federer
Round of 16 matches: Djokovic vs. Isner, Garcia-Lopez vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Fognini, Lopez vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs Kyrgios, Simon vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Federer
Quarterfinals: Djokovic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Federer
Semifinals: Djokovic vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Federer
Final: Djokovic vs. Federer
Champion: Djokovic

Courtney Massey’s predictions

Round 2 matches: Djokovic vs. Baghdatis, Troicki vs. Benneteau, Isner vs. Melzer, Delbonis vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Monaco, Kokkinakis vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Haider-Maurer, Sousa vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Pospisil, Smyczek vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Mannarino, Gimeno-Traver vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Roger-Vasselin, Nieminen vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Thiem, Fish vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Bolelli, Dolgopolov vs. Giraldo, Robredo vs. Brown, Kyrgios vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Ito, Estrella vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Young, Sijsling vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Bolt, Klizan vs. Rosol, Karlovic vs. Johnson, Querrey vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Istomin, Lu vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Hanescu, Janowicz vs. Federer
Round 3 matches: Djokovic vs. Troicki, Isner vs. Anderson, Monaco vs. Kokkinakis, Tomic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Smyczek, Fognini vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Giraldo, Robredo vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Rosol, Karlovic vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Federer
Round of 16 matches: Djokovic vs. Anderson, Monaco vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Fognini, Lopez vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs Dimitrov, Simon vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Karlovic, Bautista Agut vs. Federer
Quarterfinals: Djokovic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Nishikori, Dimitrov vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Federer
Semifinals: Djokovic vs. Nishikori, Nadal vs. Federer
Final: Djokovic vs. Nadal
Champion: Djokovic

Chris de Waard’s predictions

Round 2 matches: Djokovic vs. Baghdatis, Troicki vs. Benneteau, Isner vs. Melzer, Lajovic vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Monaco, Kokkinakis vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Haider-Maurer, Sousa vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Kukushkin, Smyczek vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Mannarino, Groth vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Roger-Vasselin, De Bakker vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Thiem, Harrison vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Bolelli, Dolgopolov vs. Giraldo, Robredo vs. Brown, Kyrgios vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Jaziri, Estrella vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Young, Krajinovic vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Bolt, Klizan vs. Rosol, Karlovic vs. Johnson, Stakhovsky vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Krajicek, Sock vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Hanescu, Janowicz vs. Federer
Round 3 matches: Djokovic vs. Troicki, Isner vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Smyczek, Mannarino vs. Groth, Lopez vs. Cuevas, Thiem vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Dolgopolov, Brown vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Klizan, Johnson vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Sock, Seppi vs. Federer
Round of 16 matches: Djokovic vs. Isner, Garcia-Lopez vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Manarino, Lopez vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs Dimitrov, Gasquet vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Berdych, Sock vs. Federer
Quarterfinals: Djokovic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Federer
Semifinals: Djokovic vs. Murray, Nadal vs. Wawrinka
Final: Djokovic vs. Wawrinka
Champion: Djokovic

Jeff McMillan’s predictions

Round 2 matches: Djokovic vs. Baghdatis, Troicki vs. Benneteau, Isner vs. Novikov, Delbonis vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Monaco, Kokkinakis vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Coric, Dodig vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Pospisil, Becker vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Mannarino, Groth vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Matosevic, Nieminen vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Thiem, Harrison vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Bolelli, Dolgopolov vs. Giraldo, Robredo vs. Brown, Kyrgios vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Jaziri, Estrella vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Young, Krajinovic vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Haase, Klizan vs. Rosol, Karlovic vs. Johnson, Querrey vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Istomin, Lu vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Hanescu, Janowicz vs. Federer
Round 3 matches: Djokovic vs. Troicki, Isner vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Kokkinakis, Tomic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Dolgopolov, Brown vs. Kyrgios, Simon vs. Gasquet, Young vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Klizan, Johnson vs. Berdych, Istomin vs. Lu, Seppi vs. Federer
Round of 16 matches: Djokovic vs. Isner, Cilic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Fognini, Lopez vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs Dimitrov, Simon vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Johnson, Lu vs. Federer
Quarterfinals: Djokovic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Simon, Wawrinka vs. Federer
Semifinals: Djokovic vs. Murray, Raonic vs. Wawrinka
Final: Djokovic vs. Wawrinka
Champion: Djokovic

Joe Craven’s predictions

Round 2 matches: Djokovic vs. Baghdatis, Troicki vs. Benneteau, Isner vs. Melzer, Delbonis vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Gabashvili, Kokkinakis vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Haider-Maurer, Sousa vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Pospisil, Smyczek vs. Kohlschreiber, Fognini vs. Mannarino, Groth vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Roger-Vasselin, Nieminen vs. Cuevas, Verdasco vs. Thiem, Harrison vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Bolelli, Dolgopolov vs. Giraldo, Robredo vs. Brown, Kyrgios vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Jaziri, Estrella vs. Gasquet, Chardy vs. Young, Sijsling vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Haase, Klizan vs. Rosol, Karlovic vs. Granollers, Stakhovsky vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Krajicek, Sock vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Youzhny, Janowicz vs. Federer
Round 3 matches: Djokovic vs. Troicki, Isner vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Garcia-Lopez, Tomic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Smyczek, Fognini vs. Gulbis, Lopez vs. Nieminen, Verdasco vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs. Dolgopolov, Robredo vs. Dimitrov, Simon vs. Gasquet, Young vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Klizan, Karlovic vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Muller, Seppi vs. Federer
Round of 16 matches: Djokovic vs. Anderson, Cilic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Manarino, Lopez vs. Nishikori, Raonic vs Kyrgios, Gasquet vs. Nadal, Wawrinka vs. Berdych, Bautista Agut vs. Federer
Quarterfinals: Djokovic vs. Ferrer, Murray vs. Nishikori, Dimitrov vs. Simon, Wawrinka vs. Federer
Semifinals: Djokovic vs. Nishikori, Simon vs. Federer
Final: Djokovic vs. Federer
Champion: Djokovic

Djokovic is the unanimous pick to win the title, opinions are mixed on how Nadal, Murray, Nishikori, Federer, Wawrinka and other big names will fare

Week 8 standings

Dubai
1: Niall (134 points) (+500 overall)
2: Courtney (132 points) (+300 overall)
3: Steen (108 points) (+180 overall)
4: Chris (88 points) (+180 overall)
5: Jeff (80 points) (+90 overall)

Niall rightfully had a Djokovic vs Federer final with Federer winning, as did Courtney, and they led the way this week in a razor thin result.

Acapulco

1: Niall (104 points) (+500 overall)
2: Chris (100 points) (+300 overall)
3: Courtney (100 points) (+300 overall)
4: Steen (84 points) (+180 overall)
5: Jeff (82 points) (+90 overall)

Niall had a Nishikori vs Ferrer final and edged out Chris and Courtney in previous rounds, as he swept this week.

Buenos Aires

1: Niall (136 points) (+250 overall)
2: Steen (98 points) (+150 overall)
3: Chris (96 points) (+90 overall)
4: Jeff (84 points) (+90 overall)
5: Courtney (70 points) (+45 overall)

Niall dominated in BA, as he cemented a remarkable sweep of all three ATP events.

Overall standings (after week 7)

1: Steen: 4620 ranking points (+510 points overall)
2: Niall: 3620 points (+1250 points overall)
3: Courtney: 3445 points (+645 points overall)
4: Chris: 3320 points (+570 points overall)
5: Jeff: 3270 points (+270 points overall)
6: Joe 3000 points*

Niall rocketed from last place to second with his sweep of the weeks tournaments, Jeff had a strong week prior but struggled this week and dropped back into last, while Steen still has an edge in the overall horse race.

*As mentioned, Joe will be joining the draw challenge partially through as he is now joining the TA staff team, he has been awarded a mutually decided 3000 overall points so that he has a fair enough footing to compete with the others.