Novak Djokovic came to Indian Welss 2015 as the defending champion and the top favorite. Novak gathered a boost at the Australian Open in January and chased his fourth Indian Wells crown a month and a half later. Djokovic defeated Andy Murray in the semi-final clash and arranged the title meeting with Roger Federer, like 12 months ago.
Novak defeated Marcos Baghdatis, Albert Ramos-Vinolas and John Isner before Bernard Tomic gave him a walkover in the quarter-final. Thus, the Serb faced Murray in the semi-final duel and scored a 6-2, 6-3 triumph in an hour and 28 minutes.
It was their 25th meeting on the Tour and Novak’s 17th victory, the sixth in a row after the Wimbledon 2013. Djokovic dominated on serve and return and set the title clash against Roger Federer. Andy served under 50% and never stood a chance against such a quality rival.
Novak Djokovic beat Andy Murray in the 2015 Indian Wells semi-final.
The Briton stayed under ten winners and sprayed 30 mistakes, giving away half of the points in his games and losing serve four times from six chances offered to the Serb.
Novak forged the victory in the shortest rallies up to four strokes, doing more damage with the first groundstroke on serve or return to stay on the title course. Djokovic held at 15 with a service winner in the encounter’s first game and secured a break in game two after Murray’s loose forehand.
The third game reached a couple of deuces, and Novak brought it home to forge a 3-0 advantage and settle into a fine rhythm. Andy netted an easy forehand in the sixth game to get broken again, staying far behind and failing to impose his shots.
Suddenly, the Briton pulled one break back with a backhand winner after a lucky net cord in the seventh game. He reduced the deficit before experiencing a break at love in game eight to hand the opener to Novak 6-2 after 36 minutes.
With nothing working his way, Murray lost serve in the second set’s second game, and Djokovic grabbed the next one at love for a 6-2, 3-0 lead. Andy survived another challenge in the fourth game to at least avoid a bagel. Novak fended off two break chances in game five and grabbed four straight points to open a 4-1 advantage.
The Briton saved a match point in the eighth game to reduce the deficit to 5-3 and prolong the action. However, the defending champion sealed the deal on his serve a few minutes later to secure his fifth final in the desert.
