Djokovic beats Federer for 50th triumph

INDIAN WELLS: Novak Djokovic defeated Roger Federer 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 to successfully defend his Indian Wells crown and claim his 50th career ATP title on Sunday.

The 27-year-old world No.1 from Serbia also captured his fourth Indian Wells crown and is now tied with world No.2 Federer for the most men’s titles in the California desert.

“The trophy is very heavy,” Djokovic told the crowd as he celebrated adding to the titles he won in 2008 and 2011 as well as last year.

It was another epic struggle in a long list of hardcourt battles between the two top players in the world, who have met 38 times with Swiss great Federer still holding a slight 20-18 edge.

Djokovic had lost his last two matches to Federer in straight sets after beating him in last year’s Wimbledon final.

The five-time Australian Open winner also needed three sets to beat Federer in the 2014 Indian Wells title match.

Djokovic’s range of emotions on Sunday went from shaking while trying to take a drink of water during a changeover, to breaking a racquet in fit of anger to the sweet bliss of beating the 17-time Grand Slam winner and one of the greatest of alltime on the big stage.

“If you look at the big picture, I thought I deserved it in an way, because I really fought for it,” said Djokovic.

“I am at the prime of my career. I am going to use every part of this fact to stay where I am and to fight for as many major titles as possible.

“I don’t think these challenges that I go through are harming me or that I find it difficult. It is a privilege because I earned it.”

Djokovic and Federer have combined to win eight of the last 12 Indian Wells titles but this is the first time they have met in back-to-back finals.

Federer insisted people shouldn’t read too much into this loss. “I have beat him the last couple times. It is not like I lost 10 in a row,” Federer said.

“A lot depends on how well he serves and returns..”

Djokovic blasted eight aces, 26 winners and broke Federer five times in the two hour, 17 minute battle in front of a crowd of about 15,000 inside the Tennis Garden stadium.

Meanwhile, Simona Halep claimed the biggest title of her career on Sunday, lifting the Indian Wells WTA trophy with a 2-6, 7-5, 6-4 victory over former champion Jelena Jankovic.

The hard-fought triumph over the former world No.1 from Serbia made Romania’s 23-year-old Halep the first player to win three WTA titles this year.

Halep won four of the final five games in the third set to earn the marathon victory in two hours, 37 minutes.