Federer Falters at Indian Wells

Written by Jess Plopinio
Swiss top-seeded Roger Federer suffered a shocking second-round loss to unseeded Argentine Guillermo Cañas in straight sets, 7-5,6-2, at the Pacific Life Open,in Indian Wells, California, USA. Cañas ended the 41-match winning streak by Federer who was on the way to breaking Guillermo Vilas’ 46-match winning streak.
Federer, though had five aces to Cañas’ one, started rusty in the first set. He was outclassed by his Argentine foe in every aspect of the game. Playing at the baseline, Cañas never allowed the world number one to control the play. After an hour and forty-five minutes, Federer’s hope of winning his fourth Pacific Life Open title came to an end.
Federer was quick to refute that the pressure of breaking Vilas’ record caused him the match. “You think it’s pressure. It’s no pressure at all because I take it match by match. And you guys think it takes a win to break the record. I’m concerned about winning my first-round match against a lucky loser. … It just shows you how tough it is.”
Federer joins former world number ones Lleyton Hewitt and Marat Safin as big casualties in the second round.