Tiger Woods stretched his lead in the World Golf Championships
CA Championship to a comfortable four shots Saturday, then spent
the evening watching buddy Roger Federer win his match at the Sony
Ericsson Open.
While rainy weather in the Miami area hasn't held up play in the
golf tournament at Doral, Federer admitted the long delays at the
Tennis Center at Key Biscayne made him wonder if Woods would want
to stick to plans to attend the match.
"I called him up and said 'Hey, it's raining here. You maybe
want to go back to your ship,'" Federer said.
"And he said, 'No, I'm going to come out and see you and wait
around.'?
"So it was very nice," concluded Federer, who didn't make Woods
wait for long as he wrapped up a 6-4, 6-3 victory over big-serving
US youngster Sam Querrey to reach the third round.
A friendship has blossomed between the two sports greats since
they met at last September's US Open tennis championships.
Federer said Woods' visit to the Miami tournament had been
planned well in advance, and it came after Federer walked with
Woods during a practice round at Doral on Wednesday.
"I'm happy he comes out during a tournament," Federer said. "I
don't know how golfers are, if they're more serious than us tennis
players. But I went out to see his practice, too, and it's great
that he comes to watch tennis. I think it's a great honor for our
sport."
Federer admitted that when Woods first attended one of his
matches - at the US Open last year - he was nervous. Now, he said,
it's not so intimidating to have the 12-time major golf champion
looking on.
"It was way more difficult at the US Open," Federer said. "I
didn't know Tiger very well. He was sitting first row in my
players' box, so I was like, 'Oh, I better play well tonight.'
"So today was no problem. He was sitting far back, and it was
much more easy. But now I know him, too. So it's more relaxed. But
I was a bit tense at the US Open."
Federer said he would watch Woods' progress yesterday on
television. Chances are, he'll see his friend pull off another
victory.
Reigning British Open and PGA Championship winner Woods has
taken 12 of 23 prior WGC starts and has won 38 of 41 times when
leading after 54 holes, never losing a lead of more than a stroke
in 22 opportunities.
Federer was playing for the first time since his 41-match
winning streak was snapped by Argentina's Guillermo Canas on March
11 at the ATP Masters Series tournament at Indian Wells,
California.
With another Masters Series title on the line, Federer was
pleased just to get past the first hurdle.
"I'm just happy I came through, because I didn't know what to
expect tonight," Federer said.
Federer could meet Canas again in the round of 16. The
Argentinian defeated 19th-seeded Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain 6-7
(5/7), 6-3, 7-5.
(China Daily via AFP March 26, 2007)
