Federer claims Pacific Life title
INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) -- World number one and top seed Roger Federer brushed aside ninth seed Tim Henman 6-3 6-3 to win the Pacific Life Open for the first time.
Earlier, top-ranked Belgian Justine Henin-Hardenne beat American Lindsay Davenport 6-1 6-4 to win the women's final.
Swiss Federer began with a 1-6 record against Henman but quickly out-gunned his British opponent to claim the Masters Series title.
"I'd had difficulty with Tim in the past and I'm really happy to have won today to get one of the biggest titles in the world," said Federer, who notched his third success of the year and sports a 22-1 record in 2004.
Federer played an airtight match from the backcourt, pulling Henman from side to side and ending the one hour, six minute contest with only five unforced errors to 19 from his opponent.
"He proved he's the best player in the world right now," Henman said. "It's one of those occasions where I didn't perhaps play my best, but I wasn't allowed to."
Federer served with authority and precision, never facing a break point and winning 78 percent of his service points.
"I'm very, very confident," Federer said. "In the moments when it's not going my way, I don't see much point to panic. That makes me much stronger now than I used to be."
Since winning the Tennis Masters Series Cup last November, Federer has now beaten the elite players who have given him trouble in the past: Henman, Andre Agassi, David Nalbandian, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick.
"That was an unbelievable turning point in my career," Federer said.
"I know how to beat all those guys. I don't feel now there are many guys who really have an edge on me. That's important to me for the rest of the season."
Davenport overpowered
In the women's final Henin-Hardenne overpowered Davenport, crunching her one-handed backhand to all angles of the court and blitzing her much taller opponent's second serves.
"I love the finals," said Henin-Hardenne, who nailed 29 winners to only 17 from Davenport.
"That's what I love in tennis -- the competition and the tension. It helps me to be 100 percent."
Davenport broke the Belgian at the beginning of the second set but Henin-Hardenne surged back to 3-3 when Davenport missed a forehand approach shot.
The American served into the midday sun trailing 4-5 and in a spirited finale, her opponent needed five match points to close it out.
Davenport whipped in three service winners and a successful volley to fight off the first four but then the Belgian clubbed a forehand down the line to take the contest and her fourth title of the year.
"I'm a different and better player," Henin-Hardenne said.
"I've changed a lot. We can see it on court. Maybe in the past when I wasn't playing well in this tournament I was already feeling pressure before coming here.
"This week, I've been able to stay focused."
