By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, March 22, 2015
Novak Djokovic withstood Roger Federer's second-set charge with a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2 triumph to capture his fourth Indian Wells championship.
Photo credit: @BNPParibasOpen
Signs of stress surrounded Novak Djokovic, who sat shirtless on his court-side seat and looked exposed after a jarring tie break collapse.
Djokovic's ears were ringing from a roaring crowd supporting Roger Federer's comeback and his right hand was trembling as he gulped a nutrition drink to refuel.
More: Federer vs. Djokovic By the Numbers
Playing stirring tennis for a set and a half, Djokovic was shaky in the second-set tie break. Then the world No. 1 calmed his nerve, quieted Federer's comeback and muted the masses with a convincing close.
Djokovic withstood Federer's charge completing a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2 triumph to capture his fourth Indian Wells championship and 21st Masters crown.
It was Djokovic's 50th career ATP championship as he narrowed the gap on Federer to 20-18 in an enthralling head-to-head series.
"It's great that I managed to win this match in the big tournament and to win it in a way that I felt like I was the better player on the court," Djokovic said in his post-match press conference. "That definitely will help. It's going to give me confidence, not just for future matches that I play against him, but just for Miami and the rest of the season."
This 38th clash between the rivals was a wildly entertaining reunion day for the world's top two. The pair, who had combined to claim seven of the last 11 Indian Wells championships with Djokovic defeating Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3) in the 2014 final, put on another show today.
"Novak did well to obviously sustain the lead for most of the match," Federer said. "I think he found an extra gear in the end. It was tough. I enjoyed the match. It had a bit of everything. Controlled aggression was the key out there to try to play like that from the baseline."
It was a match of sudden momentum shifts, crackling rallies, improvised brilliance, spiking nerves, a smashed racquet and a couple of stare downs in the decider.
The Belgrade-born baseliner wasn't interested in playing the waiting game in asserting his game at the start just as he did thrashing Andy Murray in the semifinals. Djokovic delivered two love holds then broke through in the sixth game
Straddling the baseline, Djokovic crunched a heavy return down the middle, handcuffing his opponent into a netted forehand for triple break point. Federer fought off all three break points, but netted a running forehand to face a fourth.
The four-time champion lashed a deep forehand approach up the line. Against nearly any other player, the shot would have propelled him into a winning position. Against this opponent, it was a set-up for a brilliant counter strike. Sliding into a semi-split, Djokovic spun a clean backhand pass crosscourt breaking for 4-2. He slammed his third love hold quickly consolidating for 5-2.
Serving for the set, the Serbian was down 15-30 when he unleashed a 123 mph dagger down the middle. Zapping a diagonal forehand to gain set point, Djokovic closed the 32-minute opener sliding a stinging serve down the middle.
The first serve and his first strike set the tone. Djokovic served 70 percent in the opener, won all 17 points played on his first serve and dropped just four points on serve in the set. Federer showed flashes of creative shot-making, but his second serve let him down. He served 51 percent and won just four of 14 second-serve points in the opener.
Finally breaking Djokovic's invincibility on first serve after 19 straight points, Federer elevated explosively for a smash to earn his first break point in the second game of set two. Djokovic saved it before blasting a 127 mph ace wide to hold with a clenched fist. He broke for a 2-1 advantage.
Dialed in on serve, particularly his heavy wide serve, Djokovic slammed his fastest ace of the day — a 129 mph missile out wide — slamming shut a love hold for 4-2. In danger of going down a double break, Federer fought off a break point, holding for 3-4.
Revitalized surviving that skirmish, Federer wasn't finished.
Three successive corner-to-corner sprints paid off as Federer fired a forehand winner down the line ending an electrifying point that elicited the loudest eruption of the day from the crowd. Then Djokovic blinked, hitting his first double fault of day to give Federer a third break point. By that point, Federer knew the wide serve was coming before the toss even went up. He chipped it back, hit a heavy forehand and drew a forehand into net, pumping his fist and erupting in an emotional lion's roar in breaking for 4-4.
That sequence engaged the crowd and energized the second seed.
Tie break pressure taunted both men. When Federer plastered a smash into the middle of the net, Djokovic was two points from triumph at 5-3. Pulling the plug on a punishing exchange, Federer angled a drop shot to win a 26-shot rally that left both men gulping deep breaths. Djokovic, who had been so commanding on serve, gagged clanking successive double faults.
Suddenly, Federer had set point. He seized the initiative with a serve-and-volley to snatch a second set that had seemingly belonged to the Serbian just 20 minutes earlier.
The trauma of squandering the tie break left Djokovic's hand trembling as he sat on his court-side seat waiting for his resurgent rival to return.
"It was exactly what you saw," Djokovic said of the shakes, prompting laughter from the media. "Yeah, it happens I guess sometimes. The body has reactions and movements that you're not in control of. But, you know, it was a tough tiebreaker for me. It was frustrating and I just went through emotions. But I managed to calm down and get in the calmer kind of movement in the third set."
The crowd welcomed Federer back from a bathroom break with a standing ovation. Djokovic would mute the masses with the precision and depth of his drives.
Federer saved two break points, but could handle a low return on the serve-and-volley. He scattered a half-volley wide and Djokovic regained control with the break and a 2-0 lead in the decider.
Federer gained four break points in the third game, but Djokovic had an answer every time, including his own surprise serve-and-volley to ward off the fourth. The Serbian's fourth double fault gave Federer a fifth break point. A weary backhand found top of tape and Federer was back on serve at 1-2.
The Swiss had the momentum, but he couldn't sustain it.
A 40-15 lead slipped away from Federer. He scattered his first double fault of the decider to donate the break and a 4-2 lead as good friend Gavin Rossdale recoiled sitting next to Federer's father in the support box.
"I [felt] very positive physically and mentally," Federer said of his state of mind after breaking back early in the third set. "I think he smashed a racquet in the process after that maybe. I fel like I was getting the upper hand from the baseline. I was making every return, first and second serve, so overall it was the perfect thing to happen.
"That's why I'm even more disappointed that it ended up finishing the way it did. For me it was totally against the way the match was going. It was actually the comeback for me to really stamp my authority on the match. He loosened up and tried to play a bit more aggressive and that worked. He did very well at that. After that he never looked back and he loosened up a bit."
Thumping a 130 mph ace down the middle, a refocused Djokovic backed up the break decisively, extending the lead to 5-2.
A shanked forehand gave Djokovic double championship point. On the second, Federer misfired a forehand down the line and Djokovic earned a hard-fought title after two hours, 17 minutes of high drama.
Confetti from above rained down on Djokovic during the trophy ceremony. After celebrating a career milestone, he spoke about the inspiration for his major motivation.
"I am at the prime of my career. I' m going to try to use every part of this fact to stay where I am and to fight for as many major titles as possible," Djokovic said. "I know that my career, as any other career, cannot go forever. I cannot stay in the top for so many years. I'm going to try to have longevity in my career through every day, let's say, routines that I respect with my team, with preparations, recoveries, and of course consistently keep on motivating myself, finding that inspiration to play the sport in a high level. Because I don't play only for myself. I play for my family, friends, my country, people around the world that support me."