Indian Wells Quarterfinal Preview: Roger Federer vs. Kyle Edmund

With Novak Djokovic out, Roger Federer has to be feeling like this is his tournament to lose. The five-time Indian Wells champion is healthy, and he is coming off of an impressive 6-3, 6-4 win over three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka. That's the type of victory that can really improve one's confidence. Yes, he's a 20-time Grand Slam champion, and probably the greatest player ever—but even GOATs can use an ego boost from time to time. In Federer's case, after some disappointing exits over his last three majors.

But just because Federer is playing a bit better doesn't mean he can overlook his opponent on Wednesday. Kyle Edmund has mostly disappointed after making a surprise run to the semifinal at the 2018 Australian Open last year, but his talent is undeniable. He also the Indian Wells Challenger event just 10 days ago, so he's clearly comfortable in the desert conditions.

Federer has had two matches to help himself get acclimated to Indian Wells; Edmund has played seven over the past two weeks. And for somebody that had been struggling to put it all together in recent months, seven straight wins will have him feeling like he has what it takes once again. It will be fascinating to see if it's enough.