Novak Djokovic claimed his third ATP World Tour title in a perfect season by beating top-seeded Spaniard Rafael Nadal 4-6 6-3 6-2 in the final of the Indian Wells ATP tournament on Sunday.
The unstoppable Serb shrugged off the loss of the opening set to outlast the world No 1 in a gripping match lasting two hours 25 minutes at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden, extending his remarkable record for the year to 18-0.
Djokovic, who overcame world No 2 Roger Federer in the last four, broke Nadal twice early in the final set before sealing victory when the Spanish left-hander netted a forehand.
It was the Serb’s second triumph in the elite ATP Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells, having first won the title here as a 20-year-old in 2008.
“I am playing with a lot of confidence, I’m feeling the ball well on the court,” Djokovic said. “I’m very dedicated. I have a big will to win each match I’m playing. It will not stop here, definitely. I want to keep on going, keep on playing good tennis.”
During the trophy presentation, Djokovic congratulated Nadal on ‘a great tournament’, before adding: “For me, you are the greatest player ever.”
Nadal applauded the Serb for his third successive tournament win. “You started the season fantastic so all the best for the rest of the season,” the Spaniard said after his own record for the year slipped to 14-3. “I lost today but I lost to one of the greatest.”
Nadal was frustrated, though, after playing his best tennis of the tournament in the opening set before his service game fell apart. The 24-year-old had a dismal first serve percentage of 25 in the second set and 42 throughout the match.
The opening set went with serve until Nadal broke Djokovic in the fifth game but the Serb immediately broke back in the sixth, pumping his right fist in delight after hitting a backhand winner down the line.
However, the Spaniard regained control by breaking Djokovic in the seventh, after his opponent dumped successive backhands into the net, to win the first set in 48 minutes.
The second set was almost a mirror image of the first with three successive breaks of serve paving the way for Djokovic to level the match.
He broke Nadal in the sixth game after the Spaniard hooked a forehand wide before failing to hold his own serve in the seventh.
The Serb immediately recovered by breaking in the eighth and he shook off a strong challenge by Nadal in the ninth, holding serve with his sixth set point after his opponent pushed a two-fisted backhand wide. Djokovic effectively closed the door on the Spaniard with service breaks in the first and third games of the final set.
Results: Men’s singles final: 3-Novak Djokovic (Srb) bt 1-Rafael Nadal (Esp) 4-6 6-3 6-2; Women’s singles final:
1-Caroline Wozniacki (Den) bt Marion Bartoli (Fra) 6-1 2-6 6-3
