No player has yet managed to defeat Roger Federer in a match in 2018. This is not the only reason why the Swiss player is a favourite at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Roger Federer has come to Indian Wells to win. Not only because he is undefeated in 2018 and will be defending his title at the first ATP Masters 1000 tournament of the year. Federer has this claim at every tournament. And he does not see himself alone in this respect. Even if the pressure seems to be very low – the pressure on the best players is always very great,”explained the 20-time Major Winner at his opening press conference,” You’re always in the spotlight of attention and have to cope with expectations.”
In his personal opening match, Federer will face Federico Delbonis – a man against whom the 36-year-old has lost his only encounter to date. In 2013, it was in Hamburg on sand, in a phase in which Roger Federer struggled with his body (the back!) and fiddled with the material. No comparison with the current situation, even if the Basel bidder had some difficulties on his way to winning the tournament in Rotterdam, for example with Philipp Kohlschreiber.
Last year, Federer had won the final against Stan Wawrinka, and this year’s “Maestro” will have to give up his buddy. Wawrinka has learned from Federer, but is now taking some time off to get his knee ready for the Aschenplatz tournaments. Federer, on the other hand, said a few years ago that the sand didn’t need it any more (and vice versa), the decision on a longer break like 2017 is still pending. Or at least there are no comments yet.
Federer has come to Indian Wells from San Jose with a symbolic 2.5 million dollars in his luggage, which the “Match for Africa 5” has recorded for his foundation. When the boss trains personally, the stands on the practice areas are full – and when Federer speaks, you listen to him carefully. After all, he has officially been the best in the industry again for a few days.
“The feeling of being number one again is much deeper and more satisfying, because when you’re older, you only appreciate how much work you have to invest,”Federer continues.”When I finally became number one in 2004, it was a big relief for me. Because I had missed my chance in Montréal with the defeat against Andy Roddick” When it was finally time, Roger Federer really had the feeling that he deserved the top position. But he also had to work hard for it almost 14 years ago.
Here the single panel in Indian Wells