Federer, Murray confidence high heading to Indian Wells start

By Bill Scott Mar 11, 2011, 3:18 GMT

Indian Wells, California - Roger Federer begins weekend play at the Indian Wells Masters on a positive note five years after his last title in the Californian desert.

The Swiss number two still counts himself on a competitive high despite losing a close Dubai final to Novak Djokovic a fortnight ago. Federer lost in the third round in 2010 to Marcos Baghdatis after winning a trophy hat-trick at the venue from 2004-2006.

'I didn't play so well here last year,' said the 29-year-old second seed behind Rafael Nadal. 'I don't have a point to defend until Madrid (May when he lost a final to Nadal on the Spaniard's home clay).

'I'm confident and have no niggling injuries. I'm fresh - that's how I want to feel.'

It's a similar situation for Andy Murray, the Scot fifth seed who seems to have now recovered from any scarring as a result of his Australian Open finals hammering by Djokovic.

Murray, who withdrew from Dubai as a precaution for a sore wrist and played only one losing match in February in Rotterdam, said he's finally ready to resume the 2011 campaign. It's been the same for the past few seasons.

'In the last few years I haven't played that much and it's helped a lot. You need to have a little trust in what you are training and what you're practising.

'When you come into the tournaments you're not as uptight if you haven't played a match for quite a while.'

Federer doesn't have that problem, having put in a full week in Dubai. 'I feel good. I've played a lot of practice sets to make sure I'm not going to be that rusty and I've been hitting the ball well,' said the Swiss player.

Murray will play his first match when he takes on American qualifier Donald Young in the second round. Federer will start against the winner from Japan's Kei Nishikori and Russian Igor Andreev.

But the Swiss player is planning well ahead of just his next match - and he's got no interest in dwelling on any not-so-perfect past.

'I was happy with how I played in the later part of Dubai,' said the record 16-time Grand Slam champion on Thursday. 'I won four matches in a row at a place where I'd played only one match in three years.

'I wasn't at my best against Novak (Djokovic) in the final. But I'm still coming here with a much better feeling. I haven't thought about that loss since it happened. Things are looking pretty good for me.'

Federer says he will take it seriously from the start at the picturesque desert venue where he has enjoyed so much success. And his goal for 2011 has not changed - he's battling to regain the number one ranking from Nadal.

'I don't feel bad about not holding a (current) Grand Slam title. But I like being number one. I have to accept the fact that the other guy played well and you could have done better.

'I didn't have my best year at the majors, two quarter-finals and two semi-finals. I didn't play the best tennis of my life last summer. So it was understandable if I didn't so many titles in that period.'

Men began first round play on Thursday with seed sitting out due to byes.

2009 US Open champion Juan Del Potro continued his steady return form wrist surgery as he reached the second round over Czech veteran Radek Stepanek 6-4, 6-0.

Two Italians went down at the start as American Young fulfilled some of his long-touted promises to beat Potito Starace 2- 6, 6-3, 6- 3, and Romanian Victor Hanescu beat out Andreas Seppi 4-6, 7-6 (7-5), 6-3.

American Ryan Sweeting reached the second round over Spain's Marcel Granollers 6-4, 6-1.

In the women's first round, Brit Elena Baltacha saved four match points in a victory over Italy's Roberta Vinci 2-6, 7-5, 6-2.

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