ATP Indian Wells Betting: In-form Del Potro to test Nadal

 

The 2013 BNP Paribas Open final sees Juan Martin Del Potro take on Rafael Nadal. Sean Calvert previews the action...

 

Yesterday's wager on Novak Djokovic was scuppered by an inspired performance from Juan Martin Del Potro, who inflicted a first defeat of 2013 upon the world number one.

 

In what was undoubtedly the match of the tournament so far, Delpo came back from a set down and 3-0 behind in the decider to take down the Serb and book his place in the final tonight against Rafa Nadal.

 

Rafa had earlier beaten my outright tournament tip Tomas Berdych, who served for the second set at 5-3 and proceeded to lose four straight games and the match in what was not exactly an enjoyable day for this column.

 

So, the men's final is between Rafa and Delpo and it all starts at around 9pm UK time tonight, with Nadal the 1.59 favourite and Del Potro a 2.66 shot and as those prices suggest it's a nasty one to call.

 

Nadal's comeback from injury is gathering pace and these Indian Wells courts suit his game, but Del Potro has taken him apart on hard courts in the past, however he is protecting an injured wrist this time.

 

It doesn't seem to have hampered the Argentine much, as he's beaten Andy Murray and Djokovic back-to-back using largely a backhand slice and it will be interesting to see how much Nadal tries to pepper that side.

 

The overall head-to-head reads 8-3 in Nadal's favour, but on hard courts it's 3-3 and their last meeting was at the end of 2011 on clay in the Davis Cup final.

 

They've played here at Indian Wells on two previous occasion, which were the 2011 semi finals and 2009 quarter finals, both of which went the way of Nadal in straight sets.

 

I don't see the Spaniard winning this one as easily though unless Delpo is exhausted from those two tough battles with Djokovic and Murray and he should at least take a set tonight.

 

My bet in this one will be to back Del Potro to win a set at 1.64 and bigger priced punters could do worse than consider Nadal 2-1 at around 4.3.

 

Recommended Bet

Back Del Potro to win a set at 1.64

 

Bet HERE

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