Stefan Edberg believes Robin Söderling, his Swedish compatriot, has the artillery to edge a 50/50 battle in this evening’s BNP Paribas Open quarter-final with Andy Murray in Indian Wells, California.

The former Wimbledon champion can envisage the winner of this match going all the way and winning the ATP event. This, Edberg argues, would offer either young player the momentum to go into the French Open in May as a leading contender at a time when the former World No1 senses “the winds of change” are blowing through the top end of tennis.

With Rafael Nadal already through to face Ivan Ljubicic in the one semi-final, the winner of tonight’s compelling showdown could be on course for the kind of high-profile final that would test their psychological mettle at a stage when Edberg believes Roger Federer’s predominance in the world game can no longer be taken for granted.

“It’s very much a 50/50 game tonight,” Edberg said, “but if there is a slight edge, I believe Söderling has it, if he is on his game and really goes for it. I’ve played Indian Wells and I know the ball goes really quickly through the air.

“I’m not saying Söderling is the better player but there is not much in it. I sense he has nothing to lose and will relish being the underdog.

“It’s a really important match. It’s just a quarter-final in one sense, but in another, this means so much more. Winning such a tight tie would give a very talented young player the momentum, going into the semis, and either has the capability to win this event. That would be such a confidence booster ahead of the French in May.”

Edberg is in Lagos, on the Algarve in Portugal, opening his tennis academy. Cascade is a €100 million multi-sport resort that will offer teams and individuals state-of-the-art facilities in ideal conditions. The Cascade Performance Sports Academies centre is scheduled to open later this year, with Edberg as director of tennis and Sven Goran Eriksson, the former England coach, as director of football.

Edberg, still based in Sweden, will live at the resort for part of the year. Twice Wimbledon champion, he is fascinated by the evolving contest between today’s top players. “We know that Roger Federer has been dominating tennis for quite some time now but there is a wind of change now. Over the next two years, it’s going to be very interesting. Is Nadal going to come back to where he was? Is Federer going to be as motivated to keep on winning?

“Is Murray going to win his first Slam this year? Will Soderling make it to the top? There are a few answers we are going to get soon. Here are two players with a lot of potential. Murray’s had more success than Soderling. The way Soderling strikes the ball, he has all the talent; it’s just a question of putting it all together mentally. Physically it’s not a problem. Murray is already a great player – now it’s a question of whether he can win the big ones. I’m sure he will eventually, but there is so much pressure on the best player in Britain. Once he wins his first Slam, I’m sure others will follow.”