Indian Wells WTA Preview

The qualifying tournament at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells is underway and main draw action is set to begin on Wednesday for the WTA. I will be bringing you a week’s worth of live coverage of the tournament beginning Saturday, so be sure to check back frequently. If you would like more up to the minute updates, you can follow me on twitter @achangeofends. In anticipation of my trip, I’d like to give you a preview of the women’s draw.
First Quarter
Seeded Players: Victoria Azarenka (1), Agnieszka Radwanska (5), Jelena Jankovic (12), Julia Goerges (14), Yanina Wickmayer (22), Anabel Medina Garrigues (24), Svetlana Kuznetsova (25), Flavia Pennetta (27)
Perhaps the most clear cut section of the draw, Victoria Azarenka should have no trouble continuing her domination of the 2012 WTA Tour by dominating the top quarter of the Indian Wells draw. While there are some possible pitfalls in Azarenka’s draw, including Svetlana Kuznetsova, and Julia Goerges, the biggest test will likely come in the quarterfinals where she is due to meet Agnieszka Radwanska for the fourth time this year. Azarenka has won all three 2012 encounters and based on their most recent match, in Doha, has definitely gotten into Radwanska’s head. On the other hand, Radwanska is having a career year so far and certainly has the potential (and the desire) to snap her losing streak against Azarenka. However, to get that chance, she will have to make her way through a tough second round match against either Sorana Cirstea or Iveta Benesova, followed by possible meetings with Flavia Pennetta and Jelena Jankovic.
Semi Finalist: Victoria Azarenka (1)
Possible Sleeper: Flavia Pennetta (27)
Best First Round Match: Sorana Cirstea vs. Iveta Benesova
Second Quarter
Seeded Players: Petra Kvitova (3), Li Na (8), Vera Zvonareva (9), Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (13), Angelique Kerber (18), Daniela Hantuchova (19), Zheng Jie (31), Christina McHale (32)
There are a lot of interesting things going on in this quarter. At first glance, Petra Kvitova should have the advantage. She’s the top seed in this part of the draw and had her breakout season last year. But, there are a lot of players who could make waves in this part of the draw. Christina McHale seems on the verge of a huge breakthrough and Angelique Kerber made the semifinals at the US Open and won her first title at the Premier level Open GDF Suez in Paris last month. Not to mention veterans Vera Zvonareva and Li Na. With the level of talent in this section, Kvitova will have to play her best to successfully navigate the minefield.
Semi Finalist: Petra Kvitova (3)
Possible Sleeper: Angelique Kerber (18)
Best First Round Match: Vania King vs. Sara Errani
Third Quarter
Seeded Players: Caroline Wozniacki (4), Marion Bartoli (7), Francesca Schiavone (10), Ana
Ivanovic (15), Peng Shuai (17), Lucie Safarova (23), Monica Niculescu (26), Kaia Kanepi (29)
Caroline Wozniacki’s reign at the top of the tennis ended after the Australian Open and she’s dropped down to No. 4 in the rankings. As the defending champion, Wozniacki has a lot at stake. She could face Ekaterina Makarova early on, who recently reached the quarterfinals at the Australian Open, defeating Vera Zvonareva and Serena Williams on the way. With players like Ivanovic, Schiavone, and Bartoli also lurking in this section, there’s a real possibility Wozniacki will not be able to repeat her title. Bartoli had a lot of success at Indian Wells last year, reaching the final even though she had been ill that week. If she’s playing well this week, her draw should allow her to make it to the later stages of the tournament for a second year.
Semi Finalist: Marion Bartoli (7)
Possible Sleeper: Ana Ivanovic (15)
Best First Round Match: Ekaterina Makarova vs. Bethanie Mattek-Sands
Fourth Quarter
Seeded Players: Maria Sharapova (2), Samantha Stosur (6), Sabine Lisicki (11), Dominika Cibulkova (16), Maria Kirilenko (20), Roberta Vinci (21), Petra Cetkovska (28), Nadia Petrova (30)
Maria Sharapova made an impressive run to the Australian Open finals in January and has made her way back to No. 2 in the world. Her quarter of the draw is stacked with stiff competition, but it is definitely her’s to lose. Samantha Stosur could pose a threat if she can get back to the form that won her the US Open last year. Sabine Lisicki is also a contender when she manages to stay healthy. The 2011 Wimbledon semifinalist is capable of beating almost any player on her good days, but can’t seem to stay healthy for any length of time.
Semi Finalist: Maria Sharapova (2)
Possible Sleeper: Sabine Lisicki (11)
Best First Round Match: Gisela Dulko vs. Jelena Dokic
 
Semi Final 1: Victoria Azarenka d. Petra Kvitova
Semi Final 2: Maria Sharapova d. Marion Bartoli
Final: Victoria Azarenka d. Maria Sharapova