Rain delayed the start of the match as both players sat court-side waiting for the sky to clear so that they could begin their second-round Indian Wells clash.
Ball boys then padded the ground with dry towels to try and soak up the damp before play resumed.
But during the confusion, and in front of a sell-out 16,100 crowd, Federer went up to speak to umpire Ali Nili.
The Swiss star asked how the other courts were getting on with the rain, indicating that he wanted the official to hurry up and get the game on.
All the other courts were continuing through the drizzle but Nili was unaware.
“Are they playing on the other courts?” Federer asked.
“I don’t know anymore,” Nili replied.
The 36-year-old then turned to his opponent and gracefully asked if he wished to get started, despite the conditions.
“I can start but if you don’t wanna start we don’t have to,” Federer said.
Federer dictated to the ball boys where to finish drying up before the match got underway and he gracefully took the first set 6-3.
However, the heavens opened again in the fifth game of the second set with the scores tied at 2-2.
The players were taken off the court and the supporters dispersed to shelter.