INDIAN WELLS, March 19, 2018
Juan Martin Del Potro is the champion in the Californian desert. In one of the best matches of the season, the No. 6 seed from Argentina saved three match points against five-time champion Roger Federer to win his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title 6-4, 6-7(8), 7-6(2) on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Del Potro saved three of the four break points he faced, converting two of his own to seal victory in two hours and 42 minutes.
Soak it in, Delpo #BNPPO18
🎥 @TennisTV pic.twitter.com/XdpZy2FZqj
— BNP Paribas Open (@BNPPARIBASOPEN) 18. März 2018
“I cannot believe I won this tournament, beating Roger in a great final and level of tennis. We played great tennis today,” Del Potro said.
“I’m No. 6 in the world, I think? Which is so good to me. And I’m excited to keep working… I just want to keep winning titles like this if I can.”
World No. 1 Federer has won five Indian Wells titles and was trying to break away from Novak Djokovic and stand alone with his sixth title in the tennis paradise.
“I lost my serve a little bit, and then he was clean and I wasn’t. And then it goes very quickly in the breaker,” Federer said. “As close as it can be sometimes when you’re not feeling it or momentum has shifted, it’s just crazy how it can go the other way. But I had already missed my opportunities then, but I still, standing at the trophy ceremony, I think I would like to play that tie-break again, because I don’t know what the hell happened. But it’s OK. It happens sometimes.”
Isner/Sock clinch doubles title
On Saturday, John Isner and Jack Sock claimed their second ATP Masters 1000 title after defeating fellow US-Americans Bob and Mike Bryan 7-6(4), 7-6(2) in the doubles final. The encounter lasted one hour and 27 minutes.
The US-American duo improved to 14-5 together, notching their second team title.
“It’s pretty special,” said Isner. “I think more importantly for both Jack and I, just getting that winning feeling back. Admittedly, both of us have not played singles that well this year.
“Doubles can oftentimes be a springboard to singles success. So I think for me personally – and I think I can speak for Jack – I think that can be the most important thing really out of this whole week is playing some tough doubles matches and coming through in the clutch and getting that feeling sort of back again. I think for both of us, that was a good thing.”
