The men’s and women’s singles finals were played on Day Twelve, at Indian Wells.
BNP Paribas Open - an ATP Masters 1000 category tournament, on Hard Plexipave, in Indian Wells, California, USA, 4-17 March 2019.
Defending champion:
Juan Martin del Potro (6) who defeated Roger Federer (1) 6-4 6-7(8) 7-6(2)
ATP final
- Dominic Thiem (7) v Roger Federer (4)
This was the third Masters 1000 final for Thiem, and the first on a hard court. He sits 0-2 in those matches.
Federer had won many and lost several finals at this level, and was hoping to go one better than last year here, where he dipped out to Juan Martin del Potro.
The head to head showed the pair at 2-2, with the two hard court meetings both won by Federer.
Federer served first and held fairly well, moving forward in the court, as he’d been doing all tournament.
Thiem began in the worst possible way, down 0-40 with three errors, the third due to a Federer drop shot. Each of the break points were cancelled out, and Thiem even had a game point with which to work, following a forehand winner. However, another Federer drop shot, plus an overhit Austrian forehand brought up a fourth break point. A backhand off the Thiem racquet sailed long and Federer led 2-0.
The next four games went to serve, Thiem winning his two to love. Federer led 4-2. The seemingly impregnable Swiss serve was under threat after a pair of Thiem winners and a Federer error. 15-40. One break point was saved, but not the second, and Thiem broke back for 3–4. Federer struck back immediately, a backhand return winner on his fourth break point.
Serving for the set, Federer lost the first point, but soon found himself at 40-15, an ace and another big serve contributing. A loose shot saw one set point disappear, but a quality Federer serve enabled him to win the next point, and the set 6-3.
Thiem saved two break points in game three of set two to establish a 2-1 lead. Then, after winning the first point, Federer was outgunned for the remainder of his service game, being passed by a Thiem backhand to fall behind 15-40, and dropping serve with a netted forehand.
The Austrian consolidated with a love game, winners flying off the racquet.
The scoreboard showed 4-1 but it represented just a single break, and Federer held serve thereafter, as did Thiem, and at 5-3 the seventh seed had the opportunity to serve for a set win and level the match.
A superb Thiem backhand winner and a return Federer error gave the Austrian three set points. Federer casually flicked a forehand return past Thiem to save one, but the next serve was too strong and the match was indeed tied 3-6 6-3.
Through seven games of the decider, Federer won 16 of twenty points on serve, and Thiem 12 of fifteen. However, the pressure was constantly on Thiem to play catch up, Federer serving first in the set.
In game eight, the Swiss muscle began to flex. Thiem at 30-30 was outplayed by Federer, and a lob was easily put away. The break point was eliminated. Two game points also took their leave. But Thiem finished with a hold and 4-4.
The pair exchanged two more holds of serve and 5-5 reached. The standard of tennis was being maintained if not increased in the latter stages of the set.
The eleventh game lifted things even higher.
Federer won the opening point with a big unreturned serve. He then netted a forehand but reached 30-15 when Thiem did the same with a backhand.
Two points in succession went Austria’s way in identical fashion - Federer designed a drop shot which looked rather good, but the fast running Thiem not only made the ground, but when there passed a dismayed Federer with a slick cross court forehand.
Break point arrived upon the Swiss ace’s determination to repeat the shot. Thiem simply repeated the response.
A forehand cross court winner sealed a break of serve and Thiem would serve for the match.
A Thiem forehand winner and 15-0. Returns from both Swiss wings landed out of court and presented Thiem with two match points. Upon Federer dumping a final forehand into the net, Dominic Thiem won the BNP Paribas Open 3-6 6-3 6-4.
Thiem moved up four spots to his equal career high ranking of #4.
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