Monday 23 March 2015 09:17, UK
Novak Djokovic successfully defended his BNP Paribas Open title at Indian Wells with a a thrilling 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 victory over Roger Federer.
His fourth success in the desert helped the world No 1 land his 50th career title and 21st Masters 1000 Series crown.
In the 38th career meeting between the two greats of the game, the current Wimbledon and Australian Open champion made his early pressure pay on his fifth break point in the sixth game
He then took a firm grip of the opening set by holding immaculately to love in the next.
Federer, who was seeking to secure a record fifth Indian Wells title, held successfully, but the Serb served it out to end the 33-year-old's 19-set winning streak since his Melbourne exit to Andreas Seppi.
The top seed was simply perfect on points won on his first serve, playing with plenty of variety and movement in the sunshine.
Range
The ageless Federer - going for his 24th ATP Masters 1000 title and 85th overall - had beaten Djokovic in the Dubai final at the end of February, but he was struggling to find his range on the faster hard court in California.
Djokovic, who dismantled Andy Murray on Saturday, seemingly took control of the match by breaking his opponent in the third game of the next.
But some much needed patience and perseverance from the second seed helped him break back in the eighth game before the match went into a tiebreaker.
With the Serb leading 5-3 and looking in command, Federer hit back and then a crucial double fault from Djokovic allowed the Swiss ace to send the match into a decider in dramatic fashion.
Both players traded early breaks in what was turning into a lung-busting final set, but then a costly double-fault by Federer on serve in the fifth game allowed Djokovic to move ahead.
Clinical
The final game was another clinical break and after two hours and 17 minutes on court, the eight-time Grand Slam champion was crowned king in the Californian desert once again.
Djokovic is in such frightening form that it is hard to see who can stop him in 2015, although that may change with the clay-court season and the French Open just around the corner.
For now, though, he remains the stand out player in a field that was once considered to have four men at the head of it.
"If you look at the big picture, I thought I deserved it in an way, because I really fought for it," said Djokovic. "I am at the prime of my career. I am going to use every part of this fact to stay where I am and to fight for as many major titles as possible.
"I don't think these challenges that I go through and the pressure that I feel are harming me or that I find it difficult. It is a privilege because I earned it."
Victory helped him narrow the head-to-head record to 20-18 against Federer.
I am at the prime of my career. I am going to use every part of this fact to stay where I am and to fight for as many major titles as possible.
