Nadal Wins the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells

Rafael Nadal wins the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, over Juan Martin del Potro, 4-6 6-3 6-4. This was his first championship on hard court since his knee injury. Indian Wells is also his third victory since the injury, and follows wins in Brazil and Mexico. He is still in the process of rehabilitation for his injury and will be skipping the next ATP tournament in Miami. He will be back playing clay in Europe.

Quarter-Finals and Semis

World number 7, Del Potro of Argentina won against world number 3 Andy Murray, and number 1, Novak Djokovic on the way to the finals match. Del Potro defeated Andy Murray in the quarterfinals, 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 6-1. He later defeated Djokovic in the semis, 4-6 6-4 6-4. The loss to Del Potro ended the world number one’s 22 match winning streak.

Rafael Nadal defeated world number 2, Roger Federer in the quarterfinals, 6-4 6-2. Federer was bothered by a back problems and could not move as well as he should have. Federer, however, did not give this as an excuse for the loss. In the semis, Nadal won over world number 6 Tomas Berdych 6-4 7-5.

Finals Recap

Leading three games to one, in the second set, Del Potro was poised to win the tournament. At this point, Nadal started to come back, winning five straight games, to force the third set. Del Potro was still able to stave off a rout. Nadal was leading by three in the third set, leading 4-0, when Del Potro was able to salvage the point for 4-5. But Nadal was able to close out the game on the next set.

The win was Nadal’s third in four tournaments this year. It was his 14th straight win, for a 17-1 record for the year.  It was also his 600th professional career win.