Indian Wells 2017 Draw Analysis: Packed bottom quarter sets up big early clashes

INDIAN WELLS, CA - MARCH 07: Andy Murray of Great Britain serves during a practice session on day two of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 7, 2017 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) — Andy Murray has the easiest draw so far, and could face Stan Wawrinka in the semi-finals

Second quarter: Straightforward route for Stan Wawrinka

INDIAN WELLS, CA - MARCH 07: Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland plays a forehand during a practice session on day two of the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden on March 7, 2017 in Indian Wells, California. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images) — Stan Wawrinka has a relatively simple second quarter, and should set up a semi-final against Andy Murray

The second quarter is headlined by No. 3 seed Stan Wawrinka. The Swiss won his third Grand Slam title last year and has been both fit and consistent, which will worry his opponents. Like Murray, Wawrinka too has not much of a threat in his quarter, and could see Dominic Thiem in the quarters.

Also in Wawrinka’s quarter is the skilled, but patchy Gael Monfils, who is seeded 10^th here, and No. 13 seed Tomas Berdych, neither of whom pose much by way of rivalry with Wawrinka.

We can expect Wawrinka to have an easy route to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells, and given his current form, we could expect a blockbuster from the Swiss ace, and very possibly an upset of Murray in the quarters, especially considering Wawrinka’s semi-final performance at this year’s Australian Open, loss notwithstanding.

Wawrinka will meet either Dutchman Robin Haase or Italy’s Paolo Lorenzi in his second-round match.