Although it would obviously be better to be in the top 4 in the WR, Murray should be a top 4 seed in Miami anyway as Roger has confirmed he is not playing there.
Ah, I didn't know about Federer. Yes, that very significantly eases things regarding a top 4 Miami seeding.
Not absolutely, because Raonic, Ferrer and Wawrinka start within range. And even reaching the QF here could still leave Andy theoretically ending IW behind Djokovic, Nadal, Nishikori and Raonic ( or actually Ferrer ).
But that's rather unlikely so, yes, let's just look for Andy to do as well as possible, here and now, in Indian Wells.
Not to be too much of Gloomy Gus, but I actually don't like that draw. If Mr Murray were playing more consistently, I wouldn't worry. But if he's erratic, and he's playing people like Pospisil and Fognini - who can be completely off, but can sometimes play really well ...
L128: (4) Andy Murray WR 4 vs Vasek Pospisil (CAN) WR 62 (CH = 25 in January last year)
Andy leads the head-to-head by 2-0 (Rotterdam earlier this year & Vienna last year, both on hard courts, both in the last 16 & both in straight sets!).
-- Edited by Stircrazy on Friday 13th of March 2015 08:21:44 PM
Surprised to see that Andy has taken a wildcard into the doubles, with the surprising choice of Kokkinakis as partner; Surprised to see they knocked out the number 4 seeds, Rojer and Tecau, in round 1; and now could face - surprise, surprise - wildcards Roger Federer and partner in round 2.
There seems to be a bit less surprise about the result in that doubles result in the Indian Wells ( JW + doubles ) thread.
( I was a initially a bit surprised about Andy's doubles being in the non Andy section, but I guess that has logic in tournaments where he could meet, and may sometimes play with, other Brits ).
Personally, I thought it was a very good win for such a scratch pair ( even such experienced doubles players as Dom and Jamie took a couple of competitive sets to gel better ), but not entirely surprising.