The first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event of the season has reached the semi-final stage with three of the world's top four in action today.
World No.1 Rafael Nadal, my pre-tournament tip to win the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, tackles the resurgent and unseeded Juan Martin del Porto.
Spanish legend Nadal leads his match up with del Potro 4-3 although the Argentine won the last three of their four meetings in 2009.
Nadal is 4-9 (Skybet, Betfred, Boylesports) with del Potro 2-1 at Boylesports. My money will be going on Nadal but I expect it to go the distance – 2-1 Nadal is 16-5 with Sportingbet.
The other California semi-final sees world No.2 Roger Federer (11-8, Victor Chandler, Boylesports, Totesport and Skybet) tackle No.3 Novak Djokovic (4-6, Boylesports).
There is an extra edge to this one because victory for the newly-crowned Aussie Open champion would see him swap places with Federer in the South African Airways 2011 ATP Rankings.
Serbian Djokovic has enjoyed his best ever start to a season and goes into the clash on a 18-match winning run (16 in 2011).
He has won his two meetings this year with Swiss ace Federer (Australian semis, Dubai final) but that only means that Federer, who leads their head to head 13-8, is due a victory.
This semi-final is also sure to go the distance so my advice is to go 2-1 Federer, available at 4-1 with Paddy Power, Bet365, Stan James and Sportingbet.
Bonkers Bet
Nadal 2-1
Federer 2-1
£10.00 double at 18.75-1 with Paddy Power pays £187.50.
