Rafael Nadal claimed his second Indian Wells title in three years in 2009 following a rock-solid display against Andy Murray. Rafa kicked off the season with the Australian Open crown and claimed another notable trophy in the desert. World no. 1 made a convincing start in Indian Wells before passing David Nalbandian with a bagel in the decider. Nadal raced past Juan Martin del Potro to enter his fourth consecutive semi-final and move closer to the title. Rafa took down Andy Roddick 6-4, 7-6 to set the final clash against Andy Murray, who ousted Roger Federer in three sets. Nadal lost the previous two encounters against Murray, but it was all about him in the desert. The Spaniard scored a commanding 6-1, 6-2 triumph in an hour and 21 minutes to lift his 13th Masters 1000 title at 22, achieving something that will never be repeated!
Rafael Nadal dominated Andy Murray in the 2009 Indian Wells final.
Rafa dropped 11 points in eight service games, never facing a break point and keeping the pressure on the other side. Andy was far from those numbers, losing half of the points behind the initial shot and losing serve five times from six chances offered to world no. 1. Both players made around 20 unforced errors, and Rafa had the upper hand in the department of winners and forced errors. He toppled Murray in the shortest and most extended exchanges to stay in front and pick up the title without playing his best tennis. They struggled to find the right pace in windy conditions, and Nadal grabbed an early break in the encounter’s fourth game.
The Spaniard held in the next one after the Briton’s forehand error and forged a 4-1 advantage. With a boost on his side, Rafa broke again in game six with a forehand winner and closed the opener with a powerful serve for 6-1 in 40 minutes. Both players held with ease in the second set’s opening four games, and Nadal moved 3-2 up with a forehand winner in game five. World no. 1 delivered another good hold at 4-2 and pushed strong on the return in the next one. Andy sprayed a forehand mistake to suffer another break in game seven, allowing Rafa to serve for the title at 5-2. The Spaniard secured the victory with a hold at love in game eight to celebrate his second title in the desert within three years.
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