INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) – Move over Roger Federer, there is another guy with a share of your crown as king of the desert.
Novak Djokovic defeated Federer 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2 to win his fourth BNP Paribas Open on Sunday, tying him with Federer for the most titles in the desert after winning for the second straight year.
“I am at the prime of my career,” Djokovic said. “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, ranked No. 1 in the world, and No. 2 Federer met for the 38th time, second-most among rivalries in the Open era. Federer leads the series 20-18 and had won three of their last four meetings going into the final.
But Federer made too many mistakes at crucial times, piling up 43 unforced errors to 35 for Djokovic. The Serb connected on 63 percent of his first serves, while Federer’s serve let him down. He double-faulted to trail 4-2 in the third as Djokovic won the last four games of the match.
Simona Halep (AP)
Simona Halep beat Jelena Jankovic 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 in the women’s final, giving the Romanian the biggest title of her career and a WTA Tour-leading third tournament victory of the year.
Djokovic and Halep earned $900 400 each.
Halep improved to 6-0 in three-set matches this year, smacking a cross-court forehand winner off Jankovic’s weak volley return on match point. The world’s third-ranked player advanced to the final when Serena Williams withdrew before their semi-final because of a sprained right knee.
