Get ready for a blockbuster tennis showdown! Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer recorded impressive straight-set victories over Andy Murray and Milos Raonic respectively, to set up a mouth-watering final later today. It will be a rematch of last year’s championship match which Djokovic won in three pulsating sets.
Can Djokovic go back-to-back? Or will Federer exact some revenge and win a record fifth Indian Wells title? Read on for a complete preview of this much-anticipated finals matchup. If you’re looking for other sports action, though, you can check out our preview for the upcoming Valero Texas Open here.
Novak Djokovic barged into the finals of the 2015 BNP Paribas Open with an impressive straight-sets win over Andy Murray. The eight-time Grand Slam champion needed just 88 minutes to work out a 6-2, 6-3 victory and set up a dream final showdown with Roger Federer.
[sc:Other240banner ]Djokovic was all over Murray right from the get go. He broke the British No. 1’s serve a total of four times, including twice in Murray’s opening three service games. Murray had difficulty with his service game in the first set, nailing just 41 percent of his first serves.
Djokovic was simply dominant in this match, having won more than half the points (28/55) on Murray’s serve. The World No. 1 didn’t have any problems with his own serve as he dropped just one service game in the 1 ½ hour match.
Djokovic, who has an 18-2 record in 2015, extended his winning streak against Murray to six matches. With the victory, he became the first defending champion to return to the final since Federer won this event three consecutive times back in 2004-2006. He’s also just a win away from winning his 50th tour-level title which would see him become just the 12th player in the Open Era to manage such a feat.
It certainly won’t be easy as he’ll next face the red-hot Federer. Djokovic will fancy his chances against the Swiss maestro, though, as he has already beaten him in an Indian Wells final setting before. The Serb star emerged victorious in a tough championship match last year, beating Federer in three sets, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (3).
The win gave Djokovic his third BNP Paribas Open crown. Another victory on Sunday will help Djokovic equal Federer’s record of four Indian Wells titles.
Roger Federer booked a place in the final with a 7-5, 6-4 win over Milos Raonic on Saturday. The Swiss star needed just 86 minutes to grab the victory and seal his championship rematch with World No. 1 Novak Djokovic.
Federer will fancy his chances of beating Djokovic in the finals this time around because of the form that he is in right now. With his straight-set win over Raonic, Federer has now extended his winning streak to 10 matches. He is also on a 19-set win streak, dating back since the beginning of the Dubai tournament last month.
Federer was superb in that Dubai event, beating Djokovic in the finals, 6-3, 7-5. He served brilliantly the entire match to grab his second tournament win of the season and extend his head-to-head advantage against Djokovic to 20-17. Federer has now won three of his last five meetings with Djokovic.
Federer’s upcoming showdown with Djokovic is also a milestone for the former World No. 1 as this will be his 40th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final. He will be looking to win his record fifth title here at Indian Wells, having already won this event back in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012.
Federer is 10-0 in his last 10 matches.
Writer’s Prediction
Federer (+140) continues his dominance of Djokovic with a tough three-set win.
