Indian Wells Tennis 2012: Where to Watch Live Stream Online, Friday Preview, Federer, Nadal, Sharapova, Azarenka in Action

When and Where: Play begins in the single's draws, featuring men's quarter-finals and the last women's semi-final, on Friday at 4 p.m. ET. A live stream is available of all four matches on ESPN3. If you're in the U.K., a live stream is available on SkyGO.

Preview: Singles action at Indian Wells on Friday begins with the two remaining men's quarter-finals. And both contests are, on paper, enticing contests.

First up is a repeat of the 2009 US Open final between Roger Federer and Juan Martin Del Potro. The Argentinian is still striving for a return to his best after suffering a serious wrist injury following his triumph in New York. Taking on the great Swiss will be another test of whether Del Potro can once again be talked about as a part of men's tennis' true elite.

Also in the bottom-half of the draw, Rafael Nadal will be taking on former Wimbledon finalist David Nalbandian. Though the hugely talented Argentinian has certainly not made the most of his exceptional tennis talent through his career, Nalbandian can be a match for any player when at his best.

The evening session sees both women's semi-finals being played. Not before 9 p.m. ET is world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka against Angelique Kerber. A surprise U.S. Open semi-finalist last year, Kerber is a player very much on the rise. Indeed the German will break into the world's top 15 after this week.

But Azarenka is in imperious form this year. The 22-year-old, who won her first major in Australia in January, has yet to taste defeat in her 21 contests so far in 2012. In the last round Azarenka produced a dominating victory over world No. 5 Agnieszka Radwanska, 6-0, 6-2.

The final match of the day features two major winners and former world No. 1s in Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic. There is once again hope that after several false dawns, since Ivanovic went on a dramatic slide from the top of the rankings following her French Open triumph in 2008, the Serbian may be a genuine contender once more.

Ivanovic may also be helped in her efforts to make the final by the fact that Sharapova was involved a three-hour battle with fellow-Russian Maria Kirilenko yesterday.

Prediction: While many seek to write Federer off, the Swiss legend has won 36 of his 38 matches since last year's US Open. And, while Del Potro triumphed in their highest profile meeting at Flushing Meadows, Federer holds a 10-2 advantage in the pair's head-to-heads.

Federer in three sets.

In the final men's quarter-final Nalbandian should not be discounted against Nadal, with the veteran Argentianian having given Nadal problems in the past. If Nalbandian can replicate the form that saw him knock out top 10 ranked Jo-Wilfied Tsonga and Janko Tipsarevic earlier in the tournament then we could be in for an entertaining contest.

But Nadal has reached the quarter-finals here for the loss of just 14 games and should progress to the last four.

On the women's side it's hard to predict any player getting the better of Azarenka right now. The Belarusian has really stepped-up her game this year to assume the mantle of the player to beat in the women's game.

While Kerber will be no be pushover, it's difficult to see her seriously threatening Azarenka.

The second semi is almost too close to call. Both players have had problems in recent years that have prevented their best tennis being played. We just don't know when Sharapova might throw in a torrent of double faults, while Ivanovic cannot yet be counted on to play at a high level from one match to the next.

The decisive factor could well be the toll that is taken on the Russian by her grueling match of the day before.

Ivanovic to continue her return to form with a three-set win.