BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells   

Men’s Semifinal: [8] Juan Martin Del Potro (ARG) vs. [38] Milos Raonic (CAN)

Del Potro “never thought he would be able to play at this level again and be pain-free”; and he is enjoying every minute of it. The pleasure he gets from being able to do the thing that loves makes him even more of a force to be reckoned with. He approaches each match cognizant of the fact that it is a blessing for him to be here and that gives him the extra motivation, which is translating to some brilliant tennis from the Argentine.

Raonic should have been a tougher opponent; yet, this is not the Raonic of old. He has the unenviable task of trying to find his top form after a slew of injuries and surgeries had derailed him. It was a tough ask for the Canadian to play a confident Del Potro and it showed in both sets. The Canadian never got going and the lack of match play was telling in the number of unforced errors that came off his racquet.

Confidence is a funny thing, with it you can move mountains and without it, you can be crushed by a feather. Although Del Potro was not exactly a feather, he did not have to bring his best to beat Raonic today. It was a fairly straight-forward victory for the Argentine 6-2, 6-3. Unfortunately for him, his quest for his first Masters 1000 title does not get any easier. Standing in his way is none other than the twenty-time major champion, Roger Federer.

Federer escaped a very tricky match in his semifinal encounter against Borna Coric. Coric had the advantage in both the second and third sets; however, the young Croat could not capitalize on his opportunities and lost 5-7, 6-4, 6-4.

SOURCE OF IMAGES:  serveandrally (Roger Federer)