Federer adds to Indian Wells buzz

Resurgent Swiss looking to carry momentum from Dubai.

INDIAN WELLS: Roger Federer will seek to back up his Dubai title win on Saturday with a record fifth Indian Wells crown starting this week, which if successful, would be his 79th career title.

Federer, though, will face a top class field with defending champion Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic as the top seeds.

The $12 million ATP and WTA hard-court event begins on Wednesday for the women – where Maria Sharapova is the defending champion – and Thursday for the men.

Federer won titles at Indian Wells from 2004-2006 and again in 2012.

“I think this is how you win your first title again after a while, and then hopefully from here on it’s easier, especially closing out,” said Federer.

“There is a lot of pressure. Sometimes I have been disappointed with my play when it really mattered. I was able to deliver when I had to. I was able to come up with the goods. It was one of those tournaments I kind of need this way right now.”

Published in The Express Tribune, March 5^th, 2014.

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