Action gets underway on Sky Sports 1 from 6pm on Wednesday
Thursday 16 March 2017 02:51, UK
There's a stacked night of action at Indian Wells on Wednesday as Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal renew their rivalry, while Novak Djokovic meets Nick Kyrgios looking to avenge a defeat in Mexico earlier this month.
Just over six weeks since the pair met in a memorable, and unexpected Australian Open final, the legendary duo will do battle again in the Californian heat after making serene progress through a loaded bottom half of the Paribas Open draw.
It was Federer who emerged victorious in Melbourne, winning a five-set epic to claim his 18th Grand Slam title and a 12th career win over the Spaniard who holds a 23-12 advantage in their overall head-to-head record.
The pair meet for the 36th time with only three rivalries more common in the Open-era - Lendl-McEnroe (37), Djokovic-Federer (46) and Djokovic-Nadal (49).
The match is not scheduled to begin until after midnight (UK time) and is notable for two reasons; it is the first non semi-final or final meeting between the pair since 2004 (excluding the World Tour Finals group stage); and a win for Federer will give him a third successive win over his rival, the first time he will have achieved such a feat in his career.
As well as 32 Grand Slam titles, the pair have 52 Masters 1000 titles and seven Indian Wells crowns between them, while it is one apiece in meetings at this tournament. Nadal won a quarter final in straight sets in 2013, while Federer also won in straight sets in a semi-final in 2012.
It won't get any easier for the winner as next up will be either five-time champion Novak Djokovic or Nick Kyrgios who also meet on Wednesday in a match not slated to start before 10pm.
Djokovic beat Juan Martin Del Potro in three sets on Tuesday, while Kyrgios came through against Alexander Zverev. Revenge on the mind of the world number two after he was beaten by the Aussie in Acapulco a couple of weeks ago.
It was the first meeting between the pair and it was Kyrgios who emerged triumphant, winning a high-quality affair 7-6 7-5 to underline his undoubted talent and ensure that he has now beaten Djokovic, Federer and Nadal in his first meeting with each of them.
Malek Jaziri takes on Jack Sock, a two-time champion in 2017 while completing the bottom half is Donald Young against Kei Nishikori, which opens the action on the main stadium court.
Nishikori, the world number four and fifth seed, is chasing a first Masters title while American Young is finally fulfilling some of the promise he showed as a teenager having reached his first 1000 level last 16 - at the age of 27.
In the top half of the draw with world number one Andy Murray beaten by Vasek Pospisil, Stan Wawrinka remains the leading player and he meets lucky loser Yoshihito Nishioka.
The world number 70 was beaten in qualifying but has made the most of his reprieve to win three matches, including a third-round victory over Tomas Berdych to set up his meeting with the world number three, who is the only winner of a Masters title in the top half of the draw.
Gael Monfils against Dominic Thiem looks to be the highlight from the top section with the Frenchman having failed to beat the Austrian in their three previous meetings (includes one walkover).
Dusan Lajovic, having ended Pospisil's hopes, plays 21st seed Pablo Carreno Busta, while Belgium's David Goffin, an Indian Wells semi-finalist last year meets Pablo Cuevas.
You can follow all the action from Indian Wells on Sky Sports 1 from 6pm on Wednesday night
