rogerfederer.com - Roger's streak snaps

Roger's streak snaps

Guillermo Canas snapped Roger’s 41-match winning streak yesterday, beating our star 7-5, 6-2 in the third round of the Pacific Life Open.

"It was just a normal loss, like I've had about 100 times on tour," Roger commented. "That's normal to tennis. I have no problems. He played very well. I missed my chances. I think he played very well and I didn't think I was playing poorly at all. So it's OK."

Roger had arrived at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden having won seven tournaments in a row and was considered an odds-on favorite to break the record of 47 consecutive matches won by Guillermo Vilas of Argentina 30 years ago.

Canas, an Argentine who got into the tournament as a "lucky loser" from qualifying when Xavier Malisse withdrew, played more like a player who once was No. 8 in the world. Canas went up 6-5 in the first set with a service break and held to close out the set. During the break, Roger removed his shoes and summoned the ATP Tour trainer for the first of two times because of an undisclosed problem with his feet.

Roger stayed in the match for a while thereafter. But after he had a second visit from the trainer, Canas won the final three games of the set and threw open the championship.

"He was just a guy who put me away when he had to," Roger said of Canas. Roger is momentarily 3730 points ahead in the ATP ranking, a lead that will melt by 500 points but still stay comfortable. Next up is the tournament in Miami/Key Biscayne.