Tennis: Federer downs Isner for fourth Indian Wells title

World number three pleased with third consecutive tournament win.

INDIAN WELLS:

World number three Roger Federer was pleased with his performance after he beat John Isner 7-6 (9/7), 6-3 in the final to capture his third tournament in a row and a record fourth Indian Wells title.

Federer has been battling a flu bug all week and said he was close to pulling out of the Indian Wells. It limited his practice time early in the event but he said he was feeling much better after beating American 11th-seed Isner.

“Sometimes just have to play a bit sick,” said Federer, who earned $1 million for the victory. “I am happy to come through at the end. It makes me really happy beating the best.

“I’ve really played amazing these last three matches in particular and I couldn’t be more happy.”

He clinched the contest on the first match point when Isner smacked a forehand into the net.

Federer’s road to the finals included wins over hard-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, Brazilian number one Thomaz Bellucci, former US Open champ Juan Martin del Potro and Spanish rival Rafael Nadal in the semi-finals.

“Honestly, I never looked one match ahead of me.

“I thought del Potro was going to be extremely difficult. Once I got through that one, I only thought of the Nadal match.

“I played with an attitude that I can only win here. That’s how it feels now and I was able to come through.”

Federer has now compiled a 22-2 ATP Tour record this season and won 15 matches in a row since losing to Isner in the Davis Cup.

Meanwhile, Isner said it was a good experience to reach his first Indian Wells final.

“I certainly played well all week and obviously today it did not go my way,” said Isner. “I don’t really feel like I necessarily played my best, but that’s what Roger does.

“I mean, if I have any shot to beat him I’m going to have to play my best.  That wasn’t the case today.”

Azarenka downs Sharapova for women’s title

World number one Victoria Azarenka routed second-ranked Maria Sharapova 6-2, 6-3 to take the ATP/WTA Indian Wells women’s title and stretch her 2012 win streak to 23 matches.

Azarenka has won every match she has played this year, the best start to a season since Martina Hingis won 37 in a row in 1997.

“I was really nervous,” said Azarenka. “It’s important for me to try and put as much pressure on my opponent and not let her in. I really had to stay on my feet and keep playing my game.

“It was little hard with the wind but I am happy I went through.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 20^th, 2012.