Indian Wells - Why do Federer, Nadal and Djokovic thrive there?

[Deleted member 77403]

Three different game styles, yet I have never seen a court where all three have felt comfortable their whole careers, and where their games have flourished and dominated.

Just to put into perspective since 2004, only once has someone other than these three held that title. None other than The Lube himself.

2004 - Federer
2005 - Federer
2006 - Federer
2007 - Nadal
2008 - Djokovic
2009 - Nadal
2010 - Federer's coach...
2011 - Djokovic
2012 - Federer
2013 - Nadal
2014 - Djokovic
2015 - Djokovic
2016 - Djokovic
2017 - Federer

If we take a look at these numbers, Federer's longevity on these hard courts is ridiculous, winning his first back in 2004, and winning his latest one 13 years later, in what was his greatest performance of the year. Let's not also forget that he has made an additional two finals in 2014, 2015, both three setters against Djokovic. A record tying 5 titles, record 7 final appearances.

Nadal was thriving here back in 2006, despite some saying he was not good on hard courts, Nadal was making semi finals in IW since 2006, and didn't fail to get to semi final until 2014. That is crazy consistency from Nadal on a hard court. 3 HC titles here, equaling his best for most HC titles at any event, with Canada and USO.

Djokovic played his first big final right here in the desert in 2007, losing to Nadal, but then won it the next year. And after he hit his stride in 2011, never failed to make less than a semi final until this year, and has won three straight himself. A record tying 5 titles here, and boasting a 6-1 H2H against Fedal

Why is it, three distinct games have thrived so much? What makes IW so ideal? Is this the most neutral court for the big three, where they can all play their games?

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Dry air, amenities, clay hardcourts. Larry got outfoxed, though.

 

[Incognito]

Dry air, amenities, clay hardcourts. Larry got outfoxed, though.

It’s not like IW was fast in the 90s

 

[Gary Duane]

Three different game styles, yet I have never seen a court where all three have felt comfortable their whole careers, and where their games have flourished and dominated.

Just to put into perspective since 2004, only once has someone other than these three held that title. None other than The Lube himself.

2004 - Federer
2005 - Federer
2006 - Federer
2007 - Nadal
2008 - Djokovic
2009 - Nadal
2010 - Federer's coach...
2011 - Djokovic
2012 - Federer
2013 - Nadal
2014 - Djokovic
2015 - Djokovic
2016 - Djokovic
2017 - Federer

If we take a look at these numbers, Federer's longevity on these hard courts is ridiculous, winning his first back in 2004, and winning his latest one 13 years later, in what was his greatest performance of the year. Let's not also forget that he has made an additional two finals in 2014, 2015, both three setters against Djokovic. A record tying 5 titles, record 7 final appearances.

Nadal was thriving here back in 2006, despite some saying he was not good on hard courts, Nadal was making semi finals in IW since 2006, and didn't fail to get to semi final until 2014. That is crazy consistency from Nadal on a hard court. 3 HC titles here, equaling his best for most HC titles at any event, with Canada and USO.

Djokovic played his first big final right here in the desert in 2007, losing to Nadal, but then won it the next year. And after he hit his stride in 2011, never failed to make less than a semi final until this year, and has won three straight himself. A record tying 5 titles here, and boasting a 6-1 H2H against Fedal

Why is it, three distinct games have thrived so much? What makes IW so ideal? Is this the most neutral court for the big three, where they can all play their games?

I think a lot of it is timing, plus the players really liking the event. They come into the AO fresh. This year it's over Jan. 28th. IW starts March 5th. In the world of tennis that is a LONG time to rest, and for that reason I think we see the players at their best. After that things start to get crowded. Miami starts March 19th in 2018, then the clay season is just insane for those who specialize on clay.

if you think about it, events are not very well space over the year, leading top players to get too little rest if they play all the mandatory events.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

1. It's near the beginning of the year, so they're all fresh. They all do well at the AO too (Nadal winning less trophies in Melbourne admittedly but still going deep consistently since plexi)

2. A slow court (which Djokovic likes) but quick air and balls, which all of them like. So good for all of them, but advantage Djokovic - which is showed clearly in the results.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Ol' Lar' loves his grit, though. Cranked it.

Here's my thinking: The place is financed by Silicon Valley's money. Glass is made from sand. No shortage of either.

Glass SmartCourts can be a thing, no? Especially if they want to be on the leading edge of the ATP's initiatives? NextGen this bad boy.

I'd be happy with indoor polished wood.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

I'd be happy with indoor polished wood.

Wouldn't we all?

AO's doing that, though.

 

[slal1984]

Because they are all that good..!!

 

[Red Rick]

IW plays a bit weird. I think it's cause it's so dry, so the courts can be dead slow but the balls fly a bit quickly. Fed likes the fast balls, Djokovic likes the dead court, faster balls may give more depth to Nadal, so his spinny shots don't drop short...

Murray hits the flattest of them all and he's always had trouble in IW. Made like one final.

 

[Deleted member 688153]

Wouldn't we all?

AO's doing that, though.

Don't get my hopes up

 

[Tshooter]

Nobu.

Which reminds me. IW has a Nobu outpost. Miami has some makeshift food stand with the alleged local Grouper Fish, fried.

 

[Deleted member 743561]

Don't get my hopes up

lol, have you seen the little promo video they put together? Hilariously deadpan! Some serious effort poured into the sight gag.

P.S. Was actually wondering whether "timber" was code for "sandpapernomore" after this year's edition.

 

[ChaelAZ]

The atmosphere, accommodations, weather during that time, everything.
Should be a slam.

 

[tennisaddict]

Matches every other day gives the feel of slam for these guys and they cannot be upset that easily given the time between matches

 

[Roddick85]

The previous posts have listed many reasons/factor which I very much agree with.

I think a lot of that has to do with IW being the 1st MS-1000 of the year, players are fresher physically. The event itself is pretty unique, let's face it IW is now pretty much the "premium" MS-1000 event of the season. I think players really like the event which adds extra motivation to perform well : beautiful venue, great weather that doesn't mess up the schedule, great infrastructure, schedule that let's you breath a bit. All these certainly play a factor in how much players enjoy the event.

 

[Thundergod]

I think it's more that Murray sucks there since they own pretty much own all the masters besides Paris before this year.

 

[MugOpponent]

Indian Wells should host the US Open.

 

[True Fanerer]

Its Cali

 

[LETitBE]

Indian Wells should host the US Open.

I think Uzbekistan should host the UZ open..go Dennis you good thing!

 

[Mainad]

IW plays a bit weird. I think it's cause it's so dry, so the courts can be dead slow but the balls fly a bit quickly. Fed likes the fast balls, Djokovic likes the dead court, faster balls may give more depth to Nadal, so his spinny shots don't drop short...

Murray hits the flattest of them all and he's always had trouble in IW. Made like one final.

IW is one event where there has only ever been a Big 3 and no Big 4. Unlike Fedalovic, Murray has never thrived there for reasons even he cannot adequately explain. In the one final he's ever made, on a windy day back in 2009, he got heavily clobbered by Nadal (so much for the popular theory that wind is his friend). He did, however, beat Federer en route to getting there.

 

[mike danny]

Good point, @Hitman. I haven't really thought of that. It is indeed a Big 3 friendly event.