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March 14, 2004
Federer off to great start
By Patti Myers, The Desert Sun
INDIAN WELLS --Will Roger Federer make it back-to-back victories under desert skies?
After capturing last week’s victory in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the No. 1 player in the world is in Indian Wells to attempt just that.
He begins that trek today with his first match of the Pacific Life Open against Andrei Pavel of Romania. They will play the third match on Stadium 1.
Federer exudes confidence with his 16-1 start to the season, 21 of 22 matches won, and a Grand Slam victory at the Australian Open before last week’s triumph in Dubai, where he rallied from a set down to defeat Feliciano Lopez of Spain, 4-6, 6-1, 6-2.
Federer and American hotshot Andy Roddick are the two young guns on tour, at 22- and 21-years-old respectively, and the two could be in line for a desert showdown, as they are pitted on opposite sides of the draw.
The pair have combined to capture the last three Grand Slams, but Federer, still playing without a coach, is looking to keep his game consistent by playing top competition at Tennis Masters Series events.
Federer will try to continue the hot streak he’s been riding since losing in the first round of last year's French Open.
"I haven’t had any downs anymore, it was only up," he said. "I know it cannot always be like this. I just try to keep it, but when I go out on the court I feel very good right now. I’m very confident."
Although the weather conditions differ from Dubai (fog and mist) to the California desert (hot and dry), Federer says the scheduling is playing to his favor.
Plus, he says, Dubai was a perfect primer because of the outdoor conditions.
"It’s in the player’s hands," he said of the tournament scheduling. "I think this trip now – Indian Wells and Key Biscayne (Fla.) are great because if you win both events you still have time, it’s a bigger draw and you have more time to spend like a Grand Slam. Here we probably wouldn’t have that problem like maybe Hamburg and Rome."
He’s the one who decided to skip the Open 13 in Marseille in late February, where he was the defending champion, because he was tired and was battling problems with his shoulder and foot.
Since the French Open, he says, he’s improved in every aspect of his game and now feels completely healthy.
"Mentally, physically, technique, I have more experience," he said. "I feel much better on the court. Even though last year I felt OK, but I feel even more sure about everything I’m doing."
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