Henman into final Latest results

Henman has won six of their seven encounters, inflicting on Federer his two most recent defeats in Paris in October and in Rotterdam last month.

But Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Federer has otherwise won 26 of his last 27 matches.

Henman said: "I've got a good record against him but he's world number one."

The Oxford-based British number one continued: "I think his world ranking pretty much says it all. He's won the Australian Open this year, and he's certainly played better than anyone."

Federer, who beat Andre Agassi to reach the final, has also warned Henman he feels the conditions in Indian Wells will suit him better.

There's no reason why I can't keep playing like this for three or four years Tim Henman

"The surfaces in Rotterdam and Paris suit him better than me. In Rotterdam, I never found a rhythm. There were a lot of bad bounces. Also he played incredible tennis," he said.

"Obviously, this surface is a little slower, which allows him to have a better look at the return, but also for me it's easier maybe to return his serve."

Nevertheless, Henman, 10th in the men's ATP entry system, feels he is playing better than ever at the moment, even eclipsing the period when he made it to number four in the world.

After outclassing little-known Georgian Irakli Labadze 6-3 6-2 in the semi-final, the 29-year-old said: "In the last five or six tournaments, I think just the way I'm playing, the style I'm playing, and the level that I'm playing, it's probably been the best.

"I've probably stated on a number of occasions over the years, I felt like I was going to play my best tennis later on than most.

"It's come about in slightly unusual circumstances, given my shoulder injury. But, it's definitely exciting for me.