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Meanwhile, Samantha Stosur has withdrawn from the Miami Masters tournament starting this week.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.
Johnno
Guest
And Lyeton Hewitt was tough to beat as well as was Safin, and Safin has as much natural talent as anybody, and Scud hovered around too, So Federer did have some challengers maybe not on a cosistnent basis bu he got them, But Nadal rose up and was starting to beat Federer even when Federer was in his prime. There first match ever Nadal won as well.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"Why would Nadal want to have Federer's career?" 17 slams including 7 Wimbledons & at least 4 titles at three of the GS championships; 5 season-ending number 1 rankings; six season-ending championships; a consistency and dominance that Nadal could only dream of. Why wouldn't Nadal want his career? "Federer since the arrival of Nadal and Djokovic has been gets his handed to him." That's not true at all. While Nadal does have a much better H2H, Fed has won more titles including more slams and has attained more season-ending 1 rankings since 2005 (the year Nadal won his first slam). As for Djokovic, Federer has a superior H2H. "Federer got the majority of his majors against no hopers like Roddick, Murray etc You can only beat your competition. Anyway, of the two players you mentioned, Roddick has had a fine career which has seen him reach three finals post-2005 (BTW, it really amuses me when people criticize Roddick seeing as he's had a better career than about 99% of players); while Murray, a genuine star, defeated Djokovic to win the US Open. Personally, I would put Federer's competition up against Nadal's any day of the week, excluding the two players. You can have Nadal's career. It's a wonderful career. However I would prefer Federer's. Federer is also IMO the second greatest player of all time (after Laver).
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Nadal had a partial tear in his patella tendon in his left knee It wasn't as bad as a fully torn patella tendon, so the 7 months away from the game mended it without surgery. I guess when he retires he'll have patella tendon surgery
clipper
Guest
Johnno - you can't have a top GOAT - there may be disputes on who is, but you don't have the No.1 GOAT, No. 2 GOAT etc. Novak could well claim that title, although it's too early to proclaim that just yet. A big step would be if he can beat Nadal at the French, which doesn't look that likely.
Frankie Hughes
Guest
Why would Nadal want to have Federer's career? Federer since the arrival of Nadal and Djokovic has been gets his handed to him. Federer got the majority of his majors against no hopers like Roddick, Murray etc
Blendo
Guest
He certainly was injured...question is, how exactly did he recover to this level...? Unfortunately a question that needs to be asked these days...Either way, loads of fun to watch!
nickoldschool
Roar Guru
Maybe he wasnt really injured after all??....
Malcolm Dreaneen
Roar Pro
Unbelievable recovery - a true champ.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
Nadal would probably consider giving up his record over Federer if he could have Federer's overall career.
Jocelyn McLennan
Roar Guru
Rumour has it that Sharapova is acutually two years older than she claims. Birth certifiacte was "lost"..in Russia after the hast to move to Siberia and the Chernobyl meltdown.....impresses coaches no end if you have the body and strength of a 9 year old and you say you only 7.....she certainly was a very tall and mature 14 year old when I first saw her play.
Lancey5times
Guest
I agree 90% with you. The only box left for Nadal to tick is the five set grind on his fragile body. Unfortunately we won't know this until the French. While he will breeze through the early rounds (did this win get him back to 4?), I worry he may be a little under done at the back end. This seems to be the only thing that will stop him though.
Marshall
Guest
Pretty Remarkable recovery, maybe the old Steve Dank was on the staff over the off-season...hmmm?
Avatar
Roar Guru
Sharapova is a dedicated player. When she dropped to World No. 126 by May 2009 after a serious shoulder injury, she never gave up. A strong example of this came at the French Open that year, where she reached the quarter-finals, taking out Nadia Petrova and Li Na along the way. Three years later she returned to the top ranking, completed the Career Grand Slam by winning the French Open and won a Silver Medal at the Olympics. Other than Serena Williams, who has had three comebacks from serious injuries (2003-4, 2006 and 2010-11), Maria Sharapova's comeback is one of the great comeback stories in women's tennis. Nadal's win over Federer officially marked his comeback. But had he faced Djokovic in the final, who knows, maybe he may have lost. But I'm happy that Nadal won Indian Wells because it will give him a ton of confidence heading into the European clay court season. Djokovic has not beaten Nadal since last year's epic Australian Open final. Nadal won their last three meetings, all in championship matches on clay (Monte Carlo, Rome and the French Open). If Nadal keeps playing like this, Djokovic won't complete his set of Majors this year. An eighth title at Roland Garros beckons for Nadal this year I think.
Johnno
Guest
Hard to believe Sharapova is only turning 26. She turned pro in 2001, and started playing on the tour full time in 2003. Been around for ages yet still just 26, amazing. And contrary to popular opinion Sharapova has only won 4 grand slams. Each of the grand slams 1 time each. She had injury lay offs, but that surprised me I thought she had won more grand slam titles. But still winning 4 is better than most pro players will ever win. Nadal is back, and I am glad he beat Federer again consolidating once again his superior record over him, and all since he has jsut come back from injury. But unless injury strikes, I can't see Rafa overtaking Novak. He can push Novak to 5 sets, but Novak is the top goat and has been beating Rafa since 2011 consistently now.