Nadal Continues Comeback by Capturing Indian Wells Crown

March 18, 2013 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
Rafael_Nadal_01_17
Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Rafael Nadal rallied past Juan Martin del Potro on Sunday at the 2013 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, Calif., 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 to capture a record-breaking 22nd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 trophy and his third Indian Wells title. Nadal’s win is the latest in his comeback to the pro tour after a seven-month absence due to a knee injury. He returned to the courts in February, reaching the finals of the Vina del Mar finals, but fell to Horacio Zeballos. He then ran off 17 consecutive wins, including yesterday’s win over del Potro which was his 600th match win, joining Roger Federer as the only active players to achieve the feat. Nadal improved to 8-3 versus del Potro and has won their past four clashes.

"A lot of things happened the last seven months, [so] to be back here and to have this very heavy trophy with me is amazing," said Nadal. "Beating three top 10 players and winning a title like this is just something unbelievable for me. I’m very, very happy and very emotional."

Nadal also announced that he has withdrawn from the Sony Open Tennis event in Miami set to begin today. He will return to the ATP World Tour next month at the Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, where he will chase a ninth consecutive title.

In his path to the finals, Del Potro upset third-ranked Andy Murray in the quarterfinals and world number one Novak Djokovic in the semis to hand the Serbian his first loss of the season. Del Potro dropped to a 14-6 record in tour-level finals.


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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