Indian Wells Preview for Thursday, March 18, 2010.

All singles matches will be played on Stadium 1 Court.

The first match of the day will start at noon local time and feature a women's quarterfinal matchup:

(#23) Alisa Kleybanova vs. (#6) Jelena Jankovic

Both of these players have been inconsistent so far this year. Jankovic is struggling to find the form that made her the #1 player in the year just a year and a half ago, and Kleybanova seems to lack the fitness to take out the top players. Kleybanova although just took out Kim Clijsters, does she have the confidence to push on after that win?.....I think so....
Pick: Kleybanova
RESULT:  Jelena Jankovic 6-4, 6-4

Following the womens quarterfinal will be a mens semifinal match:
(#21) Juan Monaco  vs.  (#20)  Ivan Ljubicic
This is a very difficult match to call.  Both players can play excellent one day, and look terrible the next.  Inconsistency is the word for these two guys.  I'm leaning toward Monaco, just for the fact that Ljubicic is a little older and seems to wear down late in tournaments.  If anything expect this to be an up and down match where one player plays awesome for a stretch, just to go to hell and the other go from playing terrible to great. 
Pick:  Monaco in 3 long sets.
RESULT:  Ivan Ljubicic 4-6, 6-2, 6-1.

The second women's quarterfinal of the day is scheduled next:
(#28) Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez vs. (#8) Samantha Stosur

Martinez-Sanchez is having a great tournament, already putting two notches on her belt with wins over Victoria Azarenka and Yanina Wickmayer. Stosur is also having a nice tournament taking out Zvonareva and Pavlyuchenkova easily... Stosur has too much experience, and should win this one.
Pick: Stosur
RESULT:  Samantha Stosur 6-3, 7-6.

And the final singles match of the day a mens quarterfinal will be under the lights.  7:30 pm local time:
(#3) Rafael Nadal  vs.  (#19) Tomas Berdych
Berdych is playing well this week, and is surprisingly crushing his opponents with ease.  Both Troicki and Verdasco never had a chance against the Czech.  Rafa is a totally different story though.  Nadal's knees seem to be holding up, and is starting to get the rust off of his game.  I don't think Berdych has much of a chance of pulling the upset.  He'll probably hang with Rafa for the first set, but lose 7-5.  Then will fold and lose the 2nd 6-2.
Pick:  Nadal
RESULT:  Rafael Nadal 6-4, 7-6.