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

Written by: on 22nd March 2015
BNP Paribas Open tennis
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: , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.