Indian Wells, California – Roger Federer claimed the 90th title of his career with a scorching 6-4, 7-5 defeat of Stan Wawrinka on Sunday to win the men’s title at the Indian Wells Masters.
The victory, his fifth at the desert event, was the second this season for the 35-year-old who is showing the best form in 2017 of any of the elite.
Federer will advance further into the to the ranking top 10 as he adds Indian Wells to his Australian Open trophy win over Rafael Nadal in January.
The 18-time grand slam champion stands 13-1 on the season. “It’s been a fairytale of a week, I’m still in my (2016 injury) comeback. I hope my body allows me to keep playing like this,” Federer said.
“I missed playing here last year and it was sad, I first came here 17 years ago and to be here again as champ is amazing. You know what it means to me.”
Roger Federer (SUI) celebrates winning the men’s finals against Stan Wawrinka (SUI) in the men’s finals during the BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells Tennis Garden in Indian Wells, California on 19 March, 2017. (Credit Image: © John Green/CSM via ZUMA Wire) Photo: John Green/CSM via Zuma
Federer improved to 20-3 over good friend Wawrinka including 15-0 on hard courts; the Swiss has now beaten his compatriot in all three of their meetings in the desert (2011 and 2013).
Federer;s fifth Indian Wells title ties a record with Novak Djokovic for title honours; the Swiss is the oldest player to win an ATP Masters 1000 title since Andre Agassi at age 34 at Cincinnati in 2004.
Federer will move from tenth to sixth in the rankings as he heads to Miami for that Masters. Wawrinka was playing in his fourth Masters 1000 final (1-3) and his first in the US.
-dpa
