Federer keen for revenge against old foe Blake

Federer keen for revenge against old foe Blake With nine career wins from 11 matches over fellow over-30 James Blake, Roger Federer feels comfortable enough going into his Cincinnati match-up with the American.

But the 2 times Blake did beat him are the matches that Federer most certainly remembers. Blake ended the Swiss player's 2008 Beijing Olympic singles dream in the quarter-finals and also beat him on fast indoor hardcourt two months later at Paris Bercy. But for all the injury and illness problems which have dogged the career of the one-time Top-5 ranking regular, Federer is glad to see him back on court.

"He's a good friend of mine, and it's been hard seeing him go through challenges and surgeries and injuries and so forth," said No. 3 Federer. "He's back on the big stage where he belongs, especially here in the States. It's going to be a tricky, tough match."

The pair played the 2005 Cincinnati final, which Federer won as part of his sweep of the pair's first eight meetings from 2003-2008.

Federer said the Olympic defeat was one of the toughest of his career. "It was obviously a pretty big match for me to lose. I may be getting a chance for some revenge. I'm looking forward to it.

"It seems like James is playing well. We had a great finals here years ago, and I hope we can make something similar happen."