Nadal and Roddick take aim at Federer in Indian Wells

By Matthew Cronin

INDIAN WELLS (Reuters) – Spain’s Rafael Nadal is ready to
further dent Roger Federer’s aura of invincibility at the
Pacific Life Open, which starts on Friday.

World number two Nadal broke Federer’s 56-match hard court
winning streak with a 2-6 6-4 6-4 victory over the Swiss in
Dubai last Saturday.

It was the 19-year-old Nadal’s third win over the
seven-time grand slam champion in four match-ups. Seeded number
two in Indian Wells, Nadal is looking to continue his roll.

“When I go to the court, I always try 100 per cent,” Nadal
told reporters on Thursday.

“I don’t know exactly why the four times when I play him, I
play so good.”

Nadal also took down Federer in last year’s French Open
semi-finals en route to winning the title.

Not just a run of the mill clay courter, Nadal has won four
titles on hardcourts.

With a vicious left-handed forehand and incredible speed,
he seems to frustrate the world number one.

“The concentration and the physical (aspect) is important
in my game,” he said. “All my shots are not unbelievable, but
all my shots are not bad. The serve is a little bit better this
year and that’s important.”

POSITIVE RECORD

Despite his positive record against the Swiss, the
easy-going Spaniard refuses to concede that he has his rival’s
number and doesn’t believe he will overtake him in the rankings
this year.

“I am very young and he is an unbelievable player, one of
the best in history and the best player now by far,” Nadal
said. “If you look at the ranking, if you look at the points,
if you look at the grand slam titles, it’s no competition.

“And also the most important factor is that he is better
than me.”

World number three Roddick has struggled this year, calling
the first two months of the season his “worst in four years.”

In the three tournaments he’s played, the 2003 US Open
champion fell to eventual finalist Marcos Baghdatis at the
Australian Open, Andy Murray in San Jose and Julien Benneteau
in Memphis.

He withdrew from the tournament in Las Vegas last week so
he could train with his brother John, his new coach.

Roddick, who owns a 1-10 record against Federer and lost to
him in the last two Wimbledon finals, thinks he’s been trying
too hard to make changes in order to catch up to the Swiss.

“Maybe I became obsessed with that thought too much,”
Roddick said.

“I made adjustments with him in mind and you have to do
that and then apply it against him, and not lose what you are
doing against other people. It’s to his credit that he puts the
pressure on a lot of the guys.”

Roddick believes his recent lapses in form are down to
mental fragility.

“Its between the ears,” the 25-year-old said. “Now it’s a
matter of getting edge back.”