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Nadal and Roddick take aim at Federer in Indian Wells

Posted on: Friday, 10 March 2006, 03:29 CST

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."

Source: REUTERS

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