Djokovic, Pennetta, Bryans Win Indian Wells Titles
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World No. 2 Novak Djokovic turned back a red-hot Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3) to capture the title Sunday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
It was the third Indian Wells title for Djokovic, and ended Federer’s 11-match winning streak this year.
“As I said before the match today, very few points will decide a winner, and that’s what happened,” Djokovic said. “I needed to really be in the top of my game and very concentrated the last moment in order to win. That’s what I’ve done. Very proud of my achievements during this tournament.”
In the third set the two traded breaks before reaching the tiebreak.
Djokovic took a 5-1 lead in the tiebreak before closing it out 7-3. It was Federer’s first loss in five Indian Wells finals.
“At the end he made sure he kept the ball in play and I might have made a few too many errors when it really mattered,” Federer said. “But I think he made a crucial sort of 20 minutes, half and hour midway through the second set and third set where things could have gone either way. But credit to him for toughening it out and winning that second set and getting the breaker in the third.”
In the doubles final top-seeded Bob and Mike Bryan defeated No. 2 Alexander Peya and Bruno Soares 6-4, 6-3 to win their second straight BNP Paribas Open title. They won their first Indian Wells crown last year after losing twice in the final.
“It was a great couple weeks for us and for the sport of doubles,” said Bob after the pair won their 95th career title. “We’re excited to win our hometown ATP Masters 1000 and play so well against Bruno and Alex, who continue to put up great results.”
In the women’s final No. 2-seeded Flavia Pennetta upset a knee-addled No. 2 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-1.
“After so many years and so much work and everything, this is the moment I was waiting for,” Pennetta said after winning her first title since 2010 and her 10th career. “And it comes when you least expect it. In the beginning of the tournament I never expected to be the champion, or even be in the final or semifinal. I was just here trying to play my best tennis. For me, this is something I was waiting for a long time.”
Pennetta survived three three-setters en route to the final and improved to 10-13 in career finals. Radwanska dropped to 13-16 in career finals.
“I really tried everything I could to push myself and play 100 percent today, because this is the final, but unfortunately I was in too much pain,” said Radwanska of her knee injury. “It’s just the worst thing for a player to not be able to give 100 percent in the final of a big event. It was still a good two weeks for me. My first final here, a big event, and still a good result.”
Pennetta will rise to No. 12 on the WTA Rankings while Radwanska will remain at No. 3 when the next rankings are released.
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