DJOKOVIC VS. FEDERER THREE-SETTER CAPS OFF INDIAN WELLS TENNIS IN FITTING FASHION BY RICKY DIMON

Written by: Staff on 22nd March 2015

DJOKOVIC VS. FEDERER THREE-SETTER CAPS OFF INDIAN WELLS TENNIS IN FITTING FASHION BY RICKY DIMON

epa04675476 Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 22 March 2015. Djokovic won the final in three sets. EPA/MICHAEL NELSON EPA/MICHAEL NELSON |

It was by no means a flawless final, but Sunday’s showdown between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer brought an appropriate end to what was a thrilling fortnight at the BNP Paribas Open.

Not unlike their 2014 Wimbledon title match, this one saw Federer mount a spirited charge before succumbing in the decisive set. The second-seeded Swiss recovered from a break down in the second and won it in a tiebreaker only to see Djokovic answer en route to a 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2 victory.

Djokovic, who double-faulted three times in the second-set tiebreaker, prevailed in two hours and 17 minutes for his fourth Indian Wells title.

Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts against Roger Federer of Switzerland during their final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 22 March 2015. Djokovic won the final in three sets. EPA/DANIEL MURPHY

“I thought overall it was a great match from my side,” the world No. 1 reflected. “Very solid; great intensity; great commitment to hit every ball. I thought I could have done the job earlier. Credit to Roger for fighting through. (He) showed again why he’s a competitor and champion; somebody that never gives up.”

“I think he found an extra gear in the end,” Federer said. “It was tough. I enjoyed the match; it had a bit of everything.”

So, too, did the entire men’s singles event–excitement certainly being one of those things. It featured a grand total of eight final-set tiebreakers. Those included the return of Mardy Fish, who lost to Ryan Harrison 6-4, 4-6, 7-6(3). Fellow American Jack Sock made an emotional run to the fourth round while also capturing the doubles title. Sock won all three of his singles matches in three sets, a tense 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(7) battle with Gilles Muller among them. David Ferrer also went the distance, surviving a barn-burner against Ivan Dodig 4-6, 6-1, 7-6(6).

Rafael Nadal and Milos Raonic almost made it nine, but the Spaniard cracked near the finish line. Having already squandered three match points in the second set of their quarterfinal, Nadal dropped serve at 5-5 in the third. Raonic promptly closed it out for a 4-6, 7-6(10), 7-5 upset.

Nadal will look to bounce back this upcoming fortnight in Miami, where yet another Masters 1000 tournament is taking place. Although Federer is resting, Miami will boast the comebacks of injured stars Juan Martin Del Potro, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Gael Monfils.

In other words, expect the electricity of Indian Wells to spark something similar in South Beach.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Roger Federer of Switzerland in action against Novak Djokovic of Serbia during their final match at the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament in Indian Wells, California, USA, 22 March 2015. Djokovic won the final in three sets. EPA/MICHAEL NELSON

Topics: BNP Paribas Open, Indian Wells final, Novak Djokovic, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Tennis

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10sBalls_com says:

March 22, 2015 at 8:20 pm

-@DjokerNole VS. @rogerfederer THREE-SETTER CAPS OFF #IndianWellsTennis IN FITTING FASHION BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/WH7hBbJOOQ #BNPPO15
Dimonator says:

March 22, 2015 at 9:05 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@DjokerNole VS. @rogerfederer THREE-SETTER CAPS OFF #IndianWellsTennis IN FITTING FASHION BY @Dimonator- http://t.co/WH7…