The men swing into action today at the 2010 Paribas BNP Open. All the biggest stars will be there, vying for their share of the more than $3.6 million purse. Indian Wells drew more than 330,000 last year and indications are that this year the turnstiles will keep moving. Why not? This is the crème de la crème of men’s tennis in a great venue with good weather.

Word number one, Roger Federer, the man with all the Grand Slam records, including this year’s Australian Open has a first round bye, like all the top seeds. After that, things get interesting in a hurry.

Assuming form holds, the Swiss star will face resurgent Cypriot, Marcos Baghdatis, in the third round. Baghdatis is fresh from a three set final appearance against Novak Djokovic in Dubai, a match Marcos felt he should have won. If Federer is rusty, Baghdatis could throw a fly in the ointment.

17th ranked Czech star Radek Stepanek may be looming in the fourth round. Stepanek is 2-8 against Federer lifetime. The most likely quarter final opponent will be 7th seeded American Andy Roddick, who fought Roger Federer tooth and nail at Wimbledon last year in a memorable five set finals.

The most likely semifinal opponent will be this year’s Australian Open finalist, Britain’s Grand Slam wannabe Andy Murray, who showed plenty of rust in a lackluster Dubai performance. Murray should survive to the fourth round where hard serving Ivo Karlovic or ball-hawking David Ferrer will be lurking.

Murray will be more sternly tested against the winner of Jo Willfried Tsonga or 8th seed Robin Soderling, who is always dangerous and very much in form. Soderling will be a tough 5th round pairing for Murray.

The bottom half of the draw is loaded with talent and upset potential. 6th seed Nikolay Davydenko will be seeking to dismantle defending champ Rafa Nadal and then eventually through Federer in the finals for the third time in six months. The lofty goal may meet some resistance along the way. Davydenko will have to play through Viktor Troicki and Fernando Verdasco before he reached the winner of John Isner and 3rd seeded Nadal. Isner does not back off any match and appears a big star of the future.

2nd seed Novak Djokovic may have the easiest path to the quarters, where formidable foe Marin Cilic will undoubtedly be waiting. The Djokovic- Cilic winner will run head first into the Davydenko – Nadal victor.

Djokovic is fresh from the Dubai championship and a Davis Cup quarter final win with his pal Troicki. Of late, the Serb has made a habit of engaging in three set matches. He may be ripe for a Cilic upset.

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