BNP Paribas Open 2012 Day 11 Men’s Semifinal Preview: Familiar Faces All Around

Question: How many former titles of Indian Wells are playing in the semifinal round?

Answer: six.
Times Serbian Novak Djokovic has won the BNP Paribas Open: two (2008, 2011).

Times Spaniard Rafael Nadal has won the BNP Paribas Open: two (2007, 2009).

Times Swiss Roger Federer has won the BNP Paribas Open: three (2004, 2005, 2006).

Times America John Isner has won the BNP Paribas Open: zero.

This means that in seven of the last eight years, either Djokovic, Nadal or Federer has been named the tournament champion. Djokovic is the defending champion.

Djokovic faces Isner, while Nadal takes on Federer. It may be the 28th meeting between the two former No. 1s but it is their first time to appear across the net in singles play at this ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tournament. Nadal boasts a 18-9 record in the career meetings. The last matchup between the two greats was the semifinals of the Australian Open. Nadal won that one in four sets.

From the BNP Paribas Open:

“Playing against Roger always means a little bit more than against the rest of the opponents because I am playing probably against the best of the history,” Nadal said, “and because I played probably the most important matches of my career against him and probably him against me. That’s why it makes the match a little bit more special than the rest.”