Not even a dose of the flu could halt Roger Federer from capturing his third tournamament in a row as the Swiss maestro once again proved that he just keeps getting better with age.
Federer, 30, claimed the Indian Wells title for a record fourth time – surpassing the record he shared with Jimmy Connors and Michael Chang – with another imperious display to see off big-serving, home favourite John Isner 7-6 (9-7), 6-3.
Isner had come into the final high on confidence after slaying world No.1 Noavk Djokovic in the semi-final, but he proved no match for Federer who has been playing, in must be argued, some of the best tennis of his illustrious career in recent months.
It’s a fact not lost on the man himself, with Federer admitting he is playing “amazing” at present. The Swiss finished 2011 with a flourish, winning his final three events in Basel, Paris and then in London at the ATP World Tour Finals, and he has quickly slipped into the groove this season.
Defeat in the semi-finals of the Australian Open to arch-rival Rafael Nadal has been tempered by three successive wins on the ATP Tour. No wonder then that the 16-time Grand Slam winner is looking forward to the season ahead as he eyes Olympic gold.
“I’ve really played amazing these last three matches in particular. I couldn’t be more happy. They were really great wins,” said Federer of his victories over Juan Martin del Potro, Nadal and Isner to clinch the Indian Wells crown.
“Honestly, I never looked one match ahead of me,” Federer said. “I thought del Potro was going to be extremely difficult. Once I got through that one, I only thought of the Nadal match. So for me, maybe mentally because of what happened, it was a bit of an easier tournament.
“I played with an attitude that I can only win here. I don’t favour myself because I have not felt great. It would be a surprise to come through. That’s how it feels now. I was able to come through, and so convincingly at the end is amazing. I’ve really played amazing these last three matches.”
Federer has now compiled a 22-2 ATP Tour record this season and has now won 15 matches in a row since losing to Isner in Davis Cup. The only people to have beaten him on the court this year are Nadal and Isner and he defeated both of them in Indian Wells.
And worryingly for his rivals Federer is showing no signs of slowing down. He can’t afford to if he is going to catch world No.1 Novak Djokovic, winner of the Australian Open this year and 10 titles in 2011. “For the moment, Novak is the best player,” Federer said. “A lot has to happen for me to come through. I am playing well and I have won six of the last eight events I have played.”
Another goal of Federer’s is winning at the London Olympics, which begin in just over four months. Asked if he could pick one thing to win this year, he replied, “to win the Olympic gold. Why not, right? But it is going to be lot of hard work.”
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