Djokovic defeats Nadal to win Indian Wells crown

(Novak Djokovic)

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic won the ATP Indian Wells title, rallying to beat world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and improve his record this season to 18-0.

Djokovic, who took over the No. 2 world ranking by beating Roger Federer in the semi-finals, on Sunday avenged a loss to Nadal in the 2007 Indian Wells final.

The 23-year-old Serbian has looked invincible this season and Sunday's victory in the California desert underlined that.

Djokovic fired four aces, including two key ones to hold serve in the second set, in the two-hour, 25-minute match to capture his second Indian Wells crown.

Djokovic took the second set in dramatic style, winning a marathon ninth game on the sixth set point after Nadal had saved five. The game, which lasted over 10 minutes, ended when Nadal hit a backhand wide in front of a near-capacity crowd of about 15,000.

It was part of a six-game win streak for Djokovic that stretched from the end of the second and into the third set and proved to be the turning point.

Nadal hit another sliding forehand into the net on match point, sparking a celebration from Djokovic, who clenched both fists, threw his head back and screamed at the top of his lungs.

Djokovic broke Nadal in the first game of the third set and cruised to victory from there. He hammered aces on the final points to hold serve in the fourth and sixth games.

Nadal had his serve broken five times in the match, including twice at the beginning of the final set.

Nadal had a dreadful time controlling his serve, especially in the second set when he won just two points off his first serve the entire set.

The Serb is to pocket $611,000 and 1000 ATP points, while Nadal leaves California with a $298,200 check and 600 points.