Roger Federer carved up Lleyton Hewitt for a seventh straight meeting, dominating 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday to lift a second consecutive title at the $5,1-million Indian Wells Masters.
The victory left the fighting spirit of Australia’s Hewitt scraping rock bottom after failing to beat the Swiss standout since October 2003.
The Australian was working with handicaps after stubbing his left big toe on the gritty hard court during Saturday’s semifinal win over Andy Roddick and his right big toe during the loss to Federer, now 26-1 on the season with four titles.
But there was trouble for the Swiss in the third set as the suffering Hewitt rallied, fighting back from 1-4 down and getting a break back in the sixth game.
Federer needed to rally from his lapse to serve it out finally with a 15th ace in one hour and 52 minutes.
”He changed his game in the third set; he was playing flat,” said the Swiss. ”I wouldn’t have been surprised if something was bothering him. That made me play more aggressive, but it made me nervous, even if I was up a double break. I’m just glad I served it out. It was definitely nice.”
Federer now leads the Aussie 9-7 in career meetings as he backed up a pair of wins over Hewitt in November at the round-robin Masters Cup. Those victories came after Federer put together a pair of 6-0 sets to thrash Hewitt in three for the United States Open final two months earlier.
Hewitt took back-to-back trophies at the desert event in 2002 and 2003; that track record counted for little on Sunday as he was unable again to challenge Federer’s supremacy.
”Roger was too strong again,” said the Australian.
Federer said that he felt in superb touch all week in the desert.
”My game has a lot to do with footwork. When I’m moving well, I can raise my game incredibly,” he said. ”This week, I’ve been playing and feeling fantastic.”
Hewitt stands 23-5 lifetime at Indian Wells. His two titles in the tournament are his only career Masters Series shields.
Federer trumped Hewitt at the start as he broke the Australian in the first game, after the second seed had elected to serve.
While Hewitt kept pace against the man who has been his recent nemesis, the floodgates opened for the Swiss as he won the last three games to wrap up the set in 28 minutes.
The second set featured a classic exchange in excess of 40 strokes, with both men repeatedly chasing lobs in the back court and racing to the net to retrieve.
Hewitt finally earned the point to save a break in the third game, eventually holding for 2-1. But again, it was superb strokes that made the lethal difference as Federer broke for 4-3.
That was all the opening required for the top seed to claim the second set on his seventh ace of the match after just more than an hour on court. — Sapa-DPA