When posed with the question of his favorite Masters 1000 match, Australian tennis sensation Alex de Minaur did not hesitate to answer. He gave his vote to the epic 2005 Indian Wells final featuring his role models, Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt. De Minaur, a young and passionate fan at the time, relished the intensity of the match and still finds himself revisiting the highlights of that unforgettable duel.
The showdown saw Federer successfully defend his Indian Wells title against Hewitt, outplaying his formidable adversary with scores of 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 in a match that spanned one hour and 54 minutes. The victory marked Federer as the desert’s first repeat champion since Hewitt’s triumph a few years prior.
The face-off was the 16th time the top seeds met on the court, and it ended with Federer notching his seventh consecutive triumph over Hewitt. The world number one demonstrated his unerring ability to seize the crucial moments. He defended six of seven break points and relentlessly heaped pressure on Hewitt.
Federer’s aggressive return of serves was a key feature of the match. He converted five of 15 break points, which helped him clinch victory in straight sets. The Swiss maestro managed to deliver over 40 winners and maintained 30 unforced errors. His performance reduced Hewitt to a 15-30 ratio, giving him a clear edge in the brief exchanges of up to four strokes.
Federer’s skill to dominate the fast-paced rallies with his serve and first groundstroke was notable. He even won more points in the longer, more complex rallies. Hewitt, on the other hand, experienced a sluggish start, committing a forehand error in the opening game and losing serve.
Following an initial break point denial in the second game, Federer displayed his prowess with a powerful serve and a forehand winner, gaining a 2-0 lead. Consistent serving in the subsequent games saw Federer advancing to 4-2 with a pair of winners at game six’s 30-30.
The Swiss legend continued to apply pressure on the return in the next game, securing another break that thrust him to a 5-2 lead. Federer stylishly wrapped up the first set in the eighth game, firing four winners and securing the opener 6-2 in just 28 minutes.
One of the most memorable moments of the match was Hewitt’s volley winner after a 45-stroke rally in the second set. This electrifying point, which had the audience on tenterhooks, was won by the Aussie while fending off a break point at 1-1.
The match remained closely contested until Federer broke Hewitt’s serve following a backhand error at 3-3. An ace at 4-3 consolidated this break for the Swiss. He then secured three direct points at 5-4 to clinch the set and edge closer to victory.
Hewitt faced another break early in the third set but managed to recover from a 0-40 deficit two games later to stay within a single break’s difference. However, Federer continued to press on the return, scoring a forehand down the line winner in the fifth game for another break and a 4-1 lead.
There was a slight hiccup in Federer’s game when he played a careless forehand in the sixth game, losing his serve for the only time and granting Hewitt the opportunity to close the gap. A potential break chance for Hewitt in the eighth game was thwarted with an ace from Federer, closing the game with a 5-3 lead. Hewitt managed to prolong the match with a hold in the ninth game.
Federer served for the title at 5-4, delivering three unreturned serves to stylishly seal the match and defend his title.
“I remember watching Roger Federer and Lleyton Hewitt battling in the 2005 Indian Wells final. They were my idols and two people I look up while entering the sport. It was cool to watch, and I often check the highlights reels,” shared Alex de Minaur, reflecting on the memorable match.
