INDIAN WELLS (USA), March 19: Roger Federer departed Indian Wells empty-handed for a second straight year, but the Swiss great sees no reason he can�t get back on track at the Miami Masters.
�Sure, it�s frustrating and disappointing and sad to some extent,� Federer said after falling 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 to Austrian Dominic Thiem in Sunday�s final.
Thiem, 25, denied Federer a record sixth Indian Wells title and returned to his career-high of fourth in the world � bumping Federer down to fifth going to the second leg of the �Sunshine Double� of Indian Wells and Miami.
But Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam winner who claimed a remarkable 100th career title in Dubai last month, can afford to take the defeat in stride � especially when he�s playing well and feels his 37-year-old body is fully fit.
�It�s just not as dramatic,� he said of falling to a player who was �just a bit better when it mattered�.
�Whereas, when you�re hurt and things are difficult, maybe those hurt more.
�I�m going to Miami. The body is perfectly fine. That also always keeps me upbeat, and I feel it�s a privilege when I feel this way leaving a tournament.
�I have been playing every single day for the last three weeks. I can be very happy and proud of that fact.�
As at Indian Wells, Federer could meet fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka in the third round in Miami.
Federer is a three-time winner at Miami, but he lost his second-round opener last year after falling to Juan Martin del Potro in the final at Indian Wells. � AFP
