Federer successfully defends title

Switzerland's Roger Federer won the Indian Wells ATP Masters Series tournament here on Sunday, defeating Lleyton Hewitt 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in the final. The world number one Federer is undefeated in his past 17 finals and has won seven titles in eight tournaments dating back to the US Open. In the final game he built a 40-0 lead then clinched the match with an ace for his 26th career singles title.
Federer is off to a personal best 26-1 this year and looks to be as close to unbeatable as anyone has been on the tour in years.
He was certainly dominant in this tournament, having not dropped a set in winning back-to-back Indian Wells titles. He beat Tim Henman 6-3, 6-3 in last year's final.
Federer has won a record 17 straight finals he has appeared in, going back to October 2003 and he is 41-1 since the start of the US Open.
The 23-year-old Federer also continued his domination over Hewitt, winning the last seven encounters, including six times in 2004.
This is the first Indian Wells final between the number one and number two players in the world since 1995, when Pete Sampras beat fellow American Andre Agassi.
Federer jack-hammered his way through the men's draw here with ease, earning straight-set victories over Mardy Fish, Gilles Muller, Ivan Ljubicic, Nicolas Kiefer and Guillermo Canas. His toughest test was against Ljubicic who he beat in two tiebreakers.
Federer has won four of the past six Grand Slams, including back-to-back Wimbledon titles in 2004 and 2003.
ATP TENNIS RANKINGS:
PARIS: The ATP Entry System rankings following last week's Masters Series tournament in Indian Wells won by Roger Federer:

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1. Roger Federer (SUI)     6050 pts

2. Lleyton Hewitt (AUS)        4305

3. Andy Roddick (USA)          3955

4. Marat Safin (RUS)           3360

5. Guillermo Coria (ARG)       2360

6. Carlos Moya (ESP)           2295

7. Tim Henman (GBR)            2155

8. Gaston Gaudio (ARG)         2150

9. David Nalbandian (ARG)      2020

10. Andre Agassi (USA)         1895

11. Joachim Johansson (SWE)    1735

12. Guillermo Canas (ARG)      1715

13. Tommy Robredo (ESP)        1665

14. Ivan Ljubicic (CRO)        1645

15. Nikolay Davydenko (RUS)    1455

16. Fernando Gonzalez (CHI)   1390)

17. Tommy Haas (GER)           1350

18. Nicolas Massu (CHI)        1345

19. Mikhail Youzhny (RUS)      1240

20. Mario Ancic (CRO)          1215

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