Unflappable Federer unfazed by daunting draw

INDIAN WELLS, California - Roger Federer, riding high after an 18th Grand Slam triumph, isn't rattled by tennis' version of "the group of death."

The Swiss, whose Australian Open victory in January signaled a resurgence after a year disrupted by injury, was drawn in the same quarter as three-time defending champion and second seed Novak Djokovic and Spanish fifth seed Rafa Nadal in the Indian Wells ATP Masters, which opens this weekend.

"Amazing, amazing draw," said world No 1 and top seed Andy Murray, who has the luxury of analyzing it from a safer spot on the opposite end of the bracket.

"I've never seen anything like that, probably it would be one of the toughest sections of a draw of all time."

Ninth-seeded Federer, however, downplayed the drama of sharing a quarter with Nadal and Djokovic. The trio has accounted for 12 of the past 13 Indian Wells titles.

To add a little more spice, they are joined by former US Open winner Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, dangerous Spanish veteran Fernando Verdasco, mercurial Australian talent Nick Kyrgios - who shocked Djokovic in Acapulco last week - and tenacious teenager Alexander Zverev, who took Nadal to five sets in Melbourne.

"Most of the guys you won't see, because they'll eliminate each other," said Federer.

But he admitted it got his attention when the draw was made.

"The first message I got was Dudi Sela or Stephane Robert (for his first opponent) and I was like 'OK, fine,'" Federer added.

"Then I heard that Rafa was in my section I was like, 'OK'. Then I heard that maybe Novak's in my section - you're like, 'OK, fine.'

"It doesn't matter," Federer insisted. "I've gone through so many draws. I came here to Indian Wells to play against those guys.

"So it doesn't matter if it's the semis the final or actually the fourth round.

"I think it's good for me to play those guys early. I look forward to it."

The unique situation is the result of last year's drop in form - and ranking - for Federer and Nadal, who played out an epic Australian Open final duel in which the Swiss emerged victorious.

Section to avoid

Federer and Nadal could meet in the fourth round in California, and whoever advances could meet Djokovic in the quarters.

In the same half, fourth-seeded Kei Nishikori and sixth-seeded Marin Cilic lurk.

The highest seed awaiting Murray in the quarterfinals could be seventh-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. Third-seeded Stan Wawrinka or eighth-seeded Austrian Dominic Thiem could meet Murray in the top half's semifinal.

While Briton Murray said all possible paths to the final were treacherous, he, like many, was mesmerized by the talent packed into the bottom quarter.

In addition to Federer's 18 Grand Slam titles, Nadal has won 14, Djokovic 12 and Del Potro one.

"In terms of the amount of Grand Slams you have in that bottom section and then also the younger up-and-comers making moves, it's pretty exciting for tennis fans for sure," Murray said.

"Obviously that's a section, ideally, that you would want to be avoiding, if you can."

Agence France-Presse