Events / Ben Caudell / 20 March 2009 /

It's getting serious at Indian Wells, so what does Ben Caudell make of the two ladies' semi-finals?

Roger Federer advanced into the final four of Indian Wells late last night after holding off a late charge from the Australian Open semi-finalist Fernando Verdasco.

Federer was in total control during the first set allowing few chances for the left-hander to unleash his formidable forehand, breaking twice and racing through the set in just under 30 minuets it appeared that this was going to be a straightforward win for the three time champion. Verdasco had other ideas and when trailing 1-4 in second set stepped up the pace to launch a mighty comeback, wining three games in succession and then breaking the Swiss to assume the lead at 6-5 Fernando looked confident in taking this match to a third. Unfortunately, after failing to convert two set points Federer forced a tie-break. Fed then cruised through the first eight points to take a 6-2 lead in the decider and clinched victory on his fourth match point.

He will meet his nemesis Andy Murray in the semis after the young Brit despatched of birthday boy Ivan Ljubicic 7-5 7-6 in a two hour test. Murray has a 5-2 head-to-head against the Swiss and has won the last three matches. Federer will no doubt be seeking his revenge.....

Today's Selections:

Victoria Azarenka (BLR) v Vera Zvonareva (RUS)
This match is a tough one to call, both players have looked at ease so far on the Indian Wells hard courts, Vera has strolled through to the semi-finals without losing a set and Victoria has played some magnificent tennis dispatching number one seed Dinara Safina in three sets. The doubles partners will be fully focused on the task ahead when they meet each other for the third time on the WTA Tour, Vera has a 3-0 head-to-head over the Belarusian and is still to drop a set against her. The hot conditions have been testing at times for even the most hardened individuals and you only have to look back a couple of months when Azarenka collapsed against Serena Williams in the Australian Open to judge who will be best equipped to the humidity of the Californian desert.
Selection: Back Vera Zvonareva @ [1.7] to win match


Ana Ivanovic (SRB) v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)
The 17-year-old Pavlyuchnkova has been nothing short of sensational at this year's BNP Paribas Open. Anastasia has managed to scare the living daylights out of her opposition with her hard hitting base line game and consistent first serve percentage. So impressive has she been that I have no doubt this girl will be in the running for a Grand Slam title within the next three years. She has amazingly won all five of her matches in straight sets, crushing a lacklustre number two seed Jelena Jankovic in the second round and a tricky Agneiska Radwanska in the quarter-finals. She now faces Ivanovic who will be well rested and as fit as a fiddle after her walkover match against Sybille Bammer due to a shoulder injury. Ana is starting to find her feet again after a poor end to 2008 and a third round exit at this year's Australian Open. She has won eight of her last nine matches and although she had a tough match against Falvia Pennetta, I think she will have too much experience at this stage in a tournament for the Russian to handle.
Selection: Back Ana Ivanovic @ [1.36] to win match

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