Red-hot Roger does it again

Swiss world No. 3 Federer blunted the powerful serving of Isner with a controlled display,edging the American 9-7 in the first set tiebreak then breaking him twice in the second set to triumph in one hour and 21 minutes. Federer clinched the title when the towering Isner,who will rise to a career-high 10th in the rankings on Monday,dumped a forehand into the net. Federer raised both arms skywards in celebration as the capacity crowd at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden erupted in applause.

This tournament victory couldnt come at a better time in my career, Federer,who has triumphed six times in his last eight ATP World Tour events,said. Its a big tournament,the first Masters 1000 of the season. Its been a long time since I have been this successful here,even though I have had some really good matches here in the past.

Federer,who came close to withdrawing from the tournament before his opening match because of a lingering flu bug,admitted he was surprised. I was not feeling great for five days overall and I definitely got lucky at the beginning of the tournament, said the 30-year-old. But I was able to come through,and so convincingly at the end. Ive really played amazing these last three matches in particular,so I couldnt be more happy.

Error-prone Isner

The opening set went with serve until the 12th game when Federer,leading 6-5,had a chance to break Isner when the American hit a forehand long to go advantage down. However,Isner saved that with a 207 km/h serve to force a Federer error and the set went into a tiebreak which Federer,beaten by Isner in four sets in a Davis Cup tie last month,finally clinched on his fourth opportunity.

He broke Isner in the seventh game of the second,unleashing a trademark backhand pass down the line to go 15-40 up before winning the next point when the American netted a backhand volley as he charged forward.

Leading 5-3,Federer broke Isner for a second time to end the match,improving his record for the year to 22-2 and surpassing Jimmy Connors and Michael Chang,both three-times champions at Indian Wells.

If I have any shot to beat him,Im gonna have to play my best and that wasnt the case today, Isner said after his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final. He was too strong. I was taking care of my serve,for the most part,up until the end. I dont think I lost the match because I didnt serve as well. He was on top of me,and his forehand was way too good today.

Comfortable at the top

Since breaking through with her first Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open in January,Azarenka has effortlessly grown into her role as the worlds top player. The 22-year-old Belarusian has compiled a perfect 23-0 record in the season and won her third title on Sunday. She was one of the players who has always had extreme potential to win a Grand Slam and be No. 1 in the world, Sharapova said after being broken six times by Azarenka in the one-sided final.

Shes going through a period in her career where shes extremely confident,extremely solid, said the former world number one. Nothing is really going wrong for her. Everything is a positive positive. When youre against her,youre playing against a good player and you have to figure out how to beat them. It hasnt happened for me the last couple of times against her.

Sharapova cautioned,though,that much can change before the end of the year. There is no doubt shes the most dominant as far as this year goes 8230; just by the level of tennis and how shes been able to keep it. Its also another thing to maintain that level. Weve got many more tournaments to go. Ultimately that is set at the end of the year and you kind of see who was where and who did how, the 24-year-old said.

Sania remains 7th in doubles

Meanwhile,Sania Mirza improved her singles ranking by three places as she moved to number 127 even as she maintained her impressive seventh rank in the doubles in the latest WTA charts. Sania had lost in the singles second round of the Indian Wells event but was a finalist in the doubles along with Elena Vesnina.

In the ATP charts,Yuki Bhambri jumped 17 places to career best 263 while out of action Somdev Devvarman slid to 167. In doubles,Leander Paes continued to be Indias highest placed player at number seven. Rohan Bopanna dropped out of top-10 as he is now at number 12,a loss of four positions,just ahead of compatriot Mahesh Bhupathi,who also lost a place.