Analysis for Ancic-Ferrero (ATP Indian Wells)

Ancic-Ferrero

Head-to-head record 0:3

Big serving Croat Mario Ancic will play his Nemesis, Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain in the third round. Ferrero is 3-0 up against Ancic and slower conditions here should suit him perfectly. He has started 2008 strongly and looks to be regaining some vintage form. He reached the final of the Heineken Open in Auckland, New Zealand and convincingly defeated David Nalbandian in straight sets to advance to the fourth round at the Australian Open. Although Ferrero was known as one of the best clay court player during his prime, he has distinguished himself as an all court player through his solid performance on hard court tournaments. He actually said during an interview that he prefers to play on hard courts. His clay court game translated well into hard court due to his aggressive style of playing. Ancic achieved much better results indoors which is not surprising but this surface will be more difficult for his style of play. He started the year again with illness and was forced to withdraw from the first tournaments of the year. Then his great indoors run came but this should be totally different story. Ancic has a good serve and is capable of producing many aces in a match. On grass and faster surfaces he serves and volleys but on slower courts he tends to rally from the back of the court. We think that it is almost 50:50 here and Ferrero´s odds above 2 can be taken.