INDIAN WELLS (California) March 21: World number one Roger Federer produced another dominant display to crush number two Lleyton Hewitt 6-2 6-4 6-4 in the final of the Pacific Life Open on Sunday.

In a coolly efficient and often spectacular dismantling of the Australian, Federer never allowed Hewitt into the contest, controlling his opponent from both the backcourt and at the net.

“My game has a lot to do with footwork,” Federer said. “When I’m moving well, I play well. This week I’ve played and felt fantastic.

“The pressure is off and I’m relieved. I didn’t sleep that well overnight because Lleyton was coming up, finals, big tournament, you can defend your title (and) hope that the streak is going to last. Once everything’s over, it’s a huge relief.”

In attempting to upset the number one, the usually steady Hewitt took risks but the strategy backfired.

He registered 31 unforced errors, the same as Federer, but the Swiss nailed 41 winners to only 18 from the Australian.

Hewitt said he injured toes on both his feet in his three set victory over Andy Roddick in the semifinals and is questionable for next week’s tournament in Miami.

The Australian felt he struck the ball well, but couldn’t put together proper game plan.

“Roger’s a tough guy,” he said. “I probably went for a little more than I needed to. But against a guy like Roger, his movement is superior.

“He makes you go for that little bit extra every time because he really does cut off the angles extremely well. It’s a tough decision to make, how much to go for it and how much to pull back.”

Federer did not drop a set during the tournament and leaves the event with a 26-1 match record in 2005. It was his 17th straight win in a final, a tour record.

“All the finals in a row, that’s fantastic,” Federer said. “I didn’t have a great record in the beginning of my career in finals. I lost more than winning them.

I was very disappointed to have a bad one in the beginning of my pro career. Somehow I turned it around.”

The 23-year-old Swiss has won four titles this year and now beaten Hewitt seven consecutive times, dropping only two of 20 sets.

“He’s purely just playing on confidence,”’ Hewitt said. “He goes out there and he believes on the big points and the big shots are going to come off for him. He knows when to pull the trigger. He’s playing on autopilot a lot out there.” —Reuters