Djokovic powers past Nadal at Indian Wells

INDIAN WELLS, (California), Mar 21 (AFP): Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic won the ATP Indian Wells title Sunday, rallying to beat world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 and improve his record this season to 18-0. Djokovic, who took over the No. 2 world ranking by beating Roger Federer in the semi-finals, avenged a loss to Nadal in the 2007 Indian Wells final. The 23-year-old Serbian has looked invincible this season and Sunday's victory in the California desert underlined that. Djokovic fired four aces, including two key ones to hold serve in the second set, in the two-hour, 25-minute match to capture his second Indian Wells crown. "I am having the best period of my life on the tennis court," Djokovic said. "I am playing with a lot of confidence. I'm feeling the ball well on the court. I'm very dedicated and I have a big will to win each match. "So it will not stop here." Djokovic took the second set in dramatic style, winning a marathon ninth game on the sixth set point after Nadal had saved five. The game, which lasted over 10 minutes, ended when Nadal hit a backhand wide in front of a near- capacity crowd of about 15,000.