Spain’s Rafael Nadal has continued his impressive comeback from a knee injury, taking out the prestigious Indian Wells title by coming from one set down to defeat Argentina’s Juan Martin del Potro in the final.
The title is Nadal’s 22nd in the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 category, his third at Indian Wells and his third consecutive this season since relaunching his career at the VTR Open in Chile, where he lost the final to Horacio Zeballos.
Nadal’s other two titles came at tournaments in Brazil and Mexico, at the latter event, he stopped compatriot David Ferrer from winning a fourth consecutive title there.
The victory also marks his 600th ATP World Tour match victory, more than a decade since turning professional.
Nadal looked in trouble early, losing the first set 6-4 (after leading 30-0 at 3-0) and being down 3-1 early in the second.
But the Spaniard would lift as three-set victories over Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic started to take its toll on Juan Martin del Potro, who not long ago was a Major winner at the 2009 US Open.
Nadal broke at 1-1 in the final set to clinch the third set 6-4 and the title, his third in the Californian desert after previously triumphing in 2007 (over Novak Djokovic) and 2009 (over Andy Murray).
What a way to return to top-level tennis after seven months out.
In the women’s final, 2006 champion and last year’s runner-up Maria Sharapova destroyed Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2 to win her second title in the desert, and her first since completing a Career Slam at the French Open last year.
The Russian, who turns 26 next month and whose run to the title included taking out former French Open champion Francesca Schiavone and the ever-consistent Sara Errani, will rise to World No. 2 in the rankings, behind Serena Williams.
Azarenka, who as a result of failing to defend her title this week after withdrawing before her quarter-final match against Wozniacki due to a persistent ankle injury, will drop to World No. 3.
Meanwhile, Samantha Stosur has withdrawn from the Miami Masters tournament starting this week. Stosur suffered a calf injury during her fourth round victory over Germany’s Mona Barthel, which forced her to withdraw from her quarter-final match against Angelique Kerber. Just when it seems she is regaining form, the worst had to happen.
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