Federer Beats Swiss Countryman Wawrinka in Indian Wells Final

by Staff | March 19th, 2017, 10:33 pm
  • 19 Comments

World No. 1 Andy Murray? Former No. 1 Novak Djokovic? The heralded “Next Gen?”
ADHEREL
Nah.

Thirty-five-year old Roger Federer is the toast of the town in Indian Wells.

The Australian Open champ followed up by winning the first ATP Masters 1000 title of the year on Sunday at Indian Wells, defeating Swiss countryman Stan Wawrinka 6-4, 7-5 for a record-tying fifth BNP Paribas Open title.


“It’s been just a fairy tale week once again,” Federer said. “I’m still on the comeback. I hope my body is going to allow me to keep on playing. I was very sad when I couldn’t come here last year. Just being here is a beautiful feeling. It’s one of my favorite tournaments. I came here for the first time 17 years ago. So to be here again as the champion is an amazing feeling.”

Starting the year at No. 17 on the ATP rankings, he will on Monday rise to No. 6. He is No. 1 on the 2017 year-only standings. He is the oldest winner at a Masters 1000 event since 34-year-old Andre Agassi won the 2004 Cincinnati title.

In the first set Federer broke with Wawrinka serving at 4-5 for the set, but Wawrinka would take a 2-0 lead in the second before eventually succumbing.

Federer improved to 20-3 career against Wawrinka.

“He was playing really fast,” Wawrinka said. “He was staying on the line, trying to play fast from both sides. It was tough for me to really get into. He always had an answer. I had a few little opportunities that I could have maybe done better, but it wasn’t enough.”

Wawrinka said it was tough to lose, but he always roots for his GOAT countryman.

“I would like to congratulate Roger,” he said on court. “I lost a tough one against you, but when you played the final in Australia, I was still your biggest fan. Anybody who knows tennis loves to watch you, so it’s always good to see you back at that level, hopefully for many years.”


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19 Comments for Federer Beats Swiss Countryman Wawrinka in Indian Wells Final

skeezer Says:

Stan, class act.
Fed?
GOAT.
17 to 6. Race #1. Saweeet.
Keep attacking that BH Maestro!

March 19th, 2017 at 10:46 pm


AndyMira Says:

@Amit!…BIG BIG CONGRATS to u buddy!…https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/7d/5f/cb/7d5fcbfbc9f1483270ac05f216e70ca7.gif

1st…U won our group Bracket..
2nd…Rog won IW…I’m very very happy for him and u Amit!It’s good to see him winning an important titles again after struggling with it for a long time…

And CONGRATS also to other Fedfans here…Markus[hey there friend!]Skeezer,madmax and others that i can’t think of at the mo….Enjoy it guys!!U all deserve it!!

March 19th, 2017 at 11:46 pm


Leo Says:

Wow Rog!

With Rafa, Stan, and with Zverev and Kyrgios chomping at the bit and eventually when Murray and Djoko return, he will need to be at this level. Tennis could be in for an epic year!

March 19th, 2017 at 11:47 pm


Aced out Says:

Well done Roger …. this article successfully decodes why you are having a resurgence at 35 …. a compelling read …. http://www.138mph.com/the-curious-case-of-roger-federer/

March 20th, 2017 at 12:01 am


Margot Says:

Congrats to the age defying, flying Fed!

March 20th, 2017 at 2:23 am


Tennis Vagabond Says:

What an achievement. It was thrilling to watch. Stan played amazing, but Fed got to the kill-shots quicker. I always enjoy good camaraderie at the net afterwards, and theirs was evident. Its really nice to see guys who are unafraid to say they are friends and root for each other.

The BH was again, key. I am just in disbelief watching Federer slash those BH returns. Why did he wait until 35 to start hitting returns this way? Net game is sharp. He’s moving the ball so well from side to side, making opponents do all the work. What a beautiful resurgence.

Has he announced anything on Miami yet?

March 20th, 2017 at 8:52 am


tfouto Says:

Yes, he will play Miami.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/news/federer-sets-new-goals-after-indian-wells-triumph-2017-sunday

“I know how hard it is to win back-to-back Indian Wells and Miami titles. That’s why again I sort of go to Miami knowing it’s going to be really difficult.”

March 20th, 2017 at 9:06 am


Tennis Vagabond Says:

tfouto, fantastic news! I know a lot of Fed fans want to see him rest, especially as this is probably his worst hard court event, but I’m greedy. And so, it seems, is Roger. Let it roll, Fed!

Boy, who had Roger leading the ATP Race going into clay season, because no matter the result in Miami, he will be. He has double the points of #2 (Rafa).

For that matter, who would have had Roger and Rafa as 1 and 2 in the Race going into clay?? What a deja vu.

Roger has now leapfrogged Rafa in the 52-week rankings. If you take off Milos’ QF and Kei’s F appearance at Miami 2016, they and ROger are virtually tied. Which means, if Rog does better than either, he will move up again.

Crazy times.

March 20th, 2017 at 9:36 am


Tennis Vagabond Says:

And then this news, from the ATP rankings round-up article:

“Denis Shapovalov cracked the Top 200 for the first time with his first ATP Challenger Tour title in Drummondville, Canada. He is the youngest player in the Top 200 and first 17 year old since Frances Tiafoe in January 2016.”

Way to go Denis! Hope we’ll be seeing him in main draws by the end of the summer. Could he make the USO?

March 20th, 2017 at 9:37 am


tfouto Says:

Yes Tennis Vagabond. Federer is playing so agressive that he manage to short the points. This allows him faster games. After Miami, he can rest for 15 days until Monte Real.

http://www.atpworldtour.com/en/tournaments

He probably should play 2 clay tournaments, Monte Real and Madrid, then rest until FO.

So basically until FO, 1 week playing, 2 weeks resting.

March 20th, 2017 at 9:42 am


tfouto Says:

He should be top4 entering FO.

March 20th, 2017 at 9:42 am


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Just want to highlight this quote from Roger’s “biggest fan”:

“He was playing really fast,” Wawrinka said. “He was staying on the line, trying to play fast from both sides. It was tough for me to really get into. He always had an answer. I had a few little opportunities that I could have maybe done better, but it wasn’t enough.”

Wawrinka said it was tough to lose, but he always roots for his GOAT countryman.

“I would like to congratulate Roger,” he said on court. “I lost a tough one against you, but when you played the final in Australia, I was still your biggest fan. Anybody who knows tennis loves to watch you, so it’s always good to see you back at that level, hopefully for many years.”

March 20th, 2017 at 9:57 am


Daniel Says:

If you take Kei´s 600 pts out and if he doesn´t go a round further than Federer in Miami, Fed should enter clay as #4. Murray, Djoko and Wawa are safe top 3 until French Open. So Fedal will be battling for #4 seed there. As Nadal plays more clay tourneys than Federer and does better than him there, he will sure gain points during clay swing.

So Fed should approach this Miami to go as further as he can, use momentum on his favor as he knows he can have 1 month rest after it, if he skips Monte Carlo, as he should.

March 20th, 2017 at 10:17 am


tfouto Says:

Daniel, 1 month should be enough to rest. He should play monte carlo, have 15 days break, Madrid, 15 days break, FO.

March 20th, 2017 at 10:45 am


the_mind_reels Says:

I can see Federer going to Madrid given the speed of the courts, the fact that he’s not defending any points there, and his past successes at altitude in Spain. What wouldn’t surprise me is him skipping Monte Carlo (despite defending 180 points there) and playing a smaller tournament like Estoril instead.

March 20th, 2017 at 10:52 am


tfouto Says:

why should he play Estoril? With what purpose? Why shouldn’t he play in Monte Carlo? Monte Carlo and Madrid. Skip Rome so he can rest properly until FO?

March 20th, 2017 at 10:54 am


Tennis Vagabond Says:

Rafa is the one whose schedule really should be scaled back. Like Fed, he’s played a lot of tennis in his comeback, and will also be in Miami. He is also over 30, and he has a lot more history of recurring injuries. If he goes for broke in clay, as is his wont, he’ll have a good chance of knocking himself out of the French as he did last year. Hope he’ll skip a week or two.

March 20th, 2017 at 11:02 am


the_mind_reels Says:

@tfouto: I mention it only because Federer has skipped Monte Carlo about half the time in the last 5-6 years. Circumstances were different then, for sure, and he’s riding a lot of momentum now, so he may as well play MC to see how his form is against the top guys on clay. Just throwing it out there given it’s something he’s done in the past. That said, it looks like when he skips it, he does play Rome, which I doubt he’ll do this year. So, that may be part of it!

March 20th, 2017 at 2:30 pm

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