Google News
The defending champion Roger Federer reached his second consecutive Indian Wells final in 2005. Roger faced Guillermo Canas in the semi-final and produced a dominant 6-3, 6-1 victory in an hour and 13 minutes for a place in the title clash.
Federer kicked off the season with a title in Doha before losing the Australian Open crown to Marat Safin. The Swiss conquered Rotterdam and Dubai and headed to Indian Wells as the favorite. Roger prevailed against his future coach Ivan Ljubicic in two tie breaks in the fourth round.
He scored three more comfortable victories in other matches to reach the semi-final. Three years earlier, Canas toppled young Federer at the Canada Masters but stood no chance in this one, taking only four games to propel the Swiss over the finish line.
The defending champion controlled the pace with 23 winners and 17 unforced errors, having the upper hand in the shortest and more advanced rallies to stay in front and bring the triumph home.
Roger Federer defeated Guillermo Canas in the 2005 Indian Wells semi-final.
Federer stole over half of the return points and created ten break chances.
He converted five to hold the strings of the clash in his hands after facing two break points and getting broken once. The favorite kicked off the action with a service winner in the encounter's opening game. He fended off a break chance in the third game with a sharp forehand winner and secured a break in the next game to open a 3-1 gap.
The Argentine broke back after forcing an error from the Swiss a couple of minutes later, reducing the deficit and leveling the score at 3-3 to stay in touch with world no. 1. Federer held after another deuce in game seven and broke Canas to open the lead.
He clinched the opener with a hold at 15 in game nine for 6-3 after 42 minutes. With the momentum on his side, Roger grabbed a break in the second set's first game. He cemented it with a volley winner and moved 3-1 in front with three service winners in the fourth game.
Finding his range, the Swiss landed a forehand winner to deliver another break and forge a 4-1 advantage. Roger held at 30 in game six and sealed the deal with another successful return game at 5-1 to propel himself into the final, taking nine of the last ten games and racing over the finish line.