Federer wins Pacific Life Open

2006-03-20 07:21

Rebecca Bryan

California - Roger Federer shook off two early breaks of serve and swept past American James Blake 7-5 6-3 6-0 on Sunday to capture his third straight Indian Wells ATP Masters Series title.

Federer, who had been handed his first loss of the season by Rafael Nadal in the final at Dubai just prior to Indian Wells, wasn't about to let it happen again.

Blake, playing in his first Masters Series final, sent a shiver of excitement around the 16 100-seat stadium when he broke Federer twice to take a 4-1 lead in the opening set.

"I just thought he played better, as simple as that," Federer said. "He played aggressive, took the ball early, put away his forehands when he could, didn't miss on the backhand, made me run around.

"That's usually what I do," Federer added. "He gave me a little bit of my own medicine."

World No 1 for 111 straight weeks

Federer admitted he was just hoping to find his rhythm and maybe get one break back in the opening set, and position himself to rally in the best-of-five match.

"I was already getting ready for a long day," Federer said. "That was absolutely my thinking - 'Hopefully I'll win in four.'"

But Federer, whose Australian Open triumph in January was his third straight Grand Slam victory, didn't need four.

He won six of the next seven games, launching the turn-around in emphatic style by breaking Blake to love in the sixth game to narrow the gap to 4-2.

Federer, who has held the world No 1 ranking for 111 straight weeks, got the set on even terms with a break for 5-5.

Blake held off the mighty Swiss four times in that game but finally surrendered with a whimper - offering up two double faults.

"After I levelled the score, I knew this could be another great final for me," he said. "I was starting to feel good."

Blake, who entered the week at No 14 in the world and goes out headed into the top 10, blamed his drop off on a few loose points of his own and the fearsome pressure applied by Federer.

"He did everything he needed to do to win," Blake said.

"Instead of making him come up with a great passing shot, I went for too much, ended up missing, gave him freebies. You can't do that against the No 1 player in the world."

Held his serve to love

Federer claimed the set by breaking Blake to love, sliding a backhand up the line on his first set point.

Federer didn't face a break point in the second set, earning the break he needed in the eighth game and then holding his serve to love.

"Second set, I felt better all the way," Federer said. "Just couldn't convert some of the early opportunities I had.

"I felt very, very confident on the court. At some moments I knew this is almost impossible that I'm going to lose this final."

Blake could offer no resistance in the third, although Federer did need three match points to put it away, netting a backhand and coughing up a double fault before sealing it with a service winner.

"He earned the whole thing," Blake said. "It's not like at 4-love I was just tapping out and missing easy shots.

"I was still going for the right shots and he just came up with the right shots."

- AP