Djokovic to face Nadal in final

Mirza, Vesnina win women’s doubles title at Indian Wells.

INDIAN WELLS:

Serbia’s Novak Djokovic continued his blistering pace this season by beating Roger Federer to reach the Indian Wells final and supersede the Swiss star as world number two.

Djokovic reached the final of the $4.5 million ATP Masters 1000 event by defeating Federer 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 to extend his match winning streak this season to 17.

“I am playing the best tennis of my life,” said Djokovic.

“It was a very close match. A lot of emotions. You could feel the intensity.”

Djokovic, who won here in 2008, won 11 consecutive points in the third set to break open the match and post his third victory over 16-time major winner Federer in the past three months.

Nadal overpowers del Potro

Djokovic moves to the final, where he will face world number one Rafael Nadal, who beat Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-4 earlier in the day.

“I have played Nadal many times,” said Djokovic. “I want this trophy as much as he wants it.”

Spaniard Nadal reached the final by snapping a three-match losing run to Argentina’s del Potro. Nadal, 24, blasted four aces and won 81 per cent of his first serve points.

“I think I did well. I played a few good games,” said Nadal.  “I think I played my best match in Indian Wells this year by far.”

Mirza, Vesnina take trophy home

India’s Sania Mirza and her Russian partner Elena Vesnina defeated eighth-seeded Americans Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Meghann Shaughnessy 6-0, 7-5 to capture the 2011 BNP Paribas Open women’s doubles title.

Mirza and Vesnina, who were unseeded at Indian Wells, took the first set comfortably in 24 minutes. The Americans rebounded in the second set, posting a 5-1 lead, but Mirza and Vesnina slapped six straight games to lift the trophy.

Meanwhile, Alexandr Dolgopolov and Xavier Malisse defeated Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 6-7(5), 10-7 to win the men’s doubles final.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 21^st, 2011.