Federer contemplates desert title duel with Nadal

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Swiss world number one Roger Federer turned his thoughts toward a possible title clash with Spaniard Rafael Nadal for this week's Pacific Life Open after cruising into the fourth round on Tuesday.

The three-times champion delivered a master class in crushing Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 6-1 6-1 and is seeded to meet left-hander Nadal in Sunday's final.

Neither Federer nor second seed and holder Nadal have dropped a set in their first two matches at Indian Wells Tennis Garden and both are eager to win their first ATP titles of the year.

"He's been playing great," Federer told reporters of Nadal's form in the California desert where the muscular Spaniard won last year's final against Serb Novak Djokovic.

"He's been playing consistent and he's been playing more than me so of course you have to expect him to do well here again. I think this surface suits him.

"After I lost here last year, I remember thinking if Rafa doesn't win here something's wrong, and he did. He didn't lose a set. I expect him to do similar things here again this year."

Federer, winner of 12 grand slam titles, was upset 7-5 6-2 by Argentina's Guillermo Canas in the second round last year after arriving at Indian Wells in search of his fourth successive title at the Masters Series event.

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