Federer in full flight heading into Miami
INDIAN WELLS, United States: Roger Federer keeps saying he’s still on the comeback trail, but he’s covering ground faster than he ever imagined.
The Swiss, sidelined much of 2016 with a knee injury, soared to a fifth ATP Indian Wells Masters title on Sunday to go with the 18th Grand Slam crown he claimed at the Australian Open in January.
And now that he’s back at number six in the world, Federer is reassessing his goals for 2017.
“This was not part of the plan, to win Australia and Indian Wells,” Federer said after his 6- 4, 7- 5 victory over fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the Indian Wells final. “The goal was to be top eight by after Wimbledon, so I’m there much, much faster.
“I will make the plan for the remainder of the season, especially for the clay, after Miami, and then see also what the goals are because the goals are clearly changing after this dream start.”
Federer emerged f rom a daunting quarter in Indian Wells that also included world number two Novak Djokovic and 14-time Grand Slam champion Rafael
The goal was to be top eight by after Wimbledon, so I’m there much, much faster.
Nadal as well as former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro and rising talents Nick Kyrgios and Alexander Zverev.
Kyrgios sent Djokovic packing, and the Serbian star has since withdrawn from this week’s tournament in Miami saying an elbow injury he’s carried for months had worsened.
Federer wiped the f loor with Nadal in Indian Wells just two months after his thrilling fiveset win over the Spaniard in the Australian Open final.
Wawrinka was the only player who managed to break Federer’s serve in the California desert, but eventually even he could only stand back and admire his superstar compatriot’s majestic progress to the title.
“The way he’s playing is just so beautiful,” Wawrinka said of the 35-year- old Federer. “Everything looks perfect. He’s moving amazingly well. He has amazing touch. He’s doing everything you can do on the tennis court.”
Federer captured his 90th career title. Although he said it was too soon to start thinking about the milestone of 100, he certainly goes into Miami a strong favourite with Djokovic as well as injured world number one Andy Murray out of the second Masters event of the year.
He has leapfrogged Nadal to sixth in the world rankings. Whether he can move past Wawrinka, Djokovic and Murray
Roger Federer, former world number one
and regain the number one ranking is a question that Federer, in his current incarnation, isn’t too worried about.
“Sure I’d love to be number one again,” he said. “But anything else other than world number one for me is not interesting. So that’s why the rankings is not a priority right now.” — AFP