Federer, Wawrinka to meet in all-Swiss final

Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka advanced to Sunday's final with
straight-set victories in the BNP Paribas Open. Photos by Mal Taam

   Switzerland was not going to be outdone by Russia.
   One day after Svetlana Kuznetsova and Elena Vesnina set up an all-Russia women's final in the BNP Paribas Open, Swiss stars Roger Federer and Stan Wawrinka today advanced to the men's final at Indian Wells.
   No. 9 seed Federer defeated No. 17 Jack Sock of Kansas City, Kan., 6-1, 7-6 (4), and No. 3 Wawrinka outclassed No. 21 Pablo Carreno Busta of Spain 6-3, 6-3.
   Both Federer, 35, and Wawrinka, 31, improved to 3-0 against their opponents. Federer has not lost a set in three matches against Sock, 24. Warwrinka has lost one (on clay) against Carreno Busta, 25.
   For good measure, No. 6 seeds Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Chan Yung-Jan of Taiwan won the women's doubles title with a 7-6 (4), 6-2 victory over unseeded Czechs Lucie Hradecka and Katerina Siniakova.
   All was not lost for the United States as No. 6 seeds Rajeev Ram of Carmel, Ind., and Raven Klaasen of South Africa edged No. 8 Lukasz Kubot of Poland and Marcelo Melo of Brazil 6-7 (1), 6-4 [10-8] for the men's doubles crown.
   Federer seeks a record-tying fifth Indian Wells title but first since 2012. Wawrinka will play in his first Indian Wells final.
   Federer is 19-3 against Wawrinka with a three-match winning streak. Federer holds a 14-0 advantage on hardcourts, including a five-set victory in the Australian Open semifinals in January en route to the title.
   Kuznetsova, 31, and Vesnina, 30, have split two career meetings. Kuznetsova triumphed on clay in the Estoril (Portugal) semifinals in 2014, and Vesnina won on hardcourt in the second round at Dubai in 2009.
   Kuznetsova, a two-time Grand Slam champion, seeks her first Indian Wells title in her third final. Vesnina advanced to the BNP final for the first time.
   ESPN will televise the women's final on Sunday at 11 a.m. and the following men's final.