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VIDEO: Rafael Nadal v Juan Martin del Potro highlights
The 11-time Grand Slam champion from Spain claimed his first hard court title since 2010 and a record 22nd title in an elite Masters event. He had previously shared the record of 21 with Roger Federer.
Nadal hadn't played a hard court tournament since pulling out of the Miami Masters last March with tendinitis in his left knee -- the same sort of knee trouble that would sideline him from his second-round Wimbledon exit in late June until February.
He came back last month to post a runner-up finish in Vina del Mar, followed by victories at Sao Paulo and Acapulco.
But none of those modest clay court tournaments posed the challenge he faced at Indian Wells, where the field featured 49 of the top 50 players in the world.
Seeded fifth, his route to the final included a quarter-final clash with defending champion Roger Federer.
In the final, Nadal halted the giant-killing run of seventh-seeded Argentinian del Potro, the 2009 US Open champion who defeated world No. 1 Novak Djokovic and world No. 3 Andy Murray en route to the final.
Nadal was quick out of the blocks, breaking del Potro in the second game of the match en route to a 3-0 lead.
But del Potro won eight of the next nine games to claim the first set and take a 2-0 lead in the second.
The Spaniard was clearly struggling against the hard-hitting del Potro, his trademark forehand failing him on numerous occasions.
However, he looked re-energized as he broke del Potro to level the second set at 3-3, and he unleashed a series of forehand winners to break del Potro again for a 5-3 lead.
He served it out with a love game capped by an ace, walking back to his chair with a business-like air.
Del Potro, perhaps tired from his lengthy duels with Djokovic and Murray, couldn't match Nadal's physicality in the third set.
Nadal broke him for a 2-1 lead and didn't face a breakpoint himself in the set.
Del Potro summoned enough energy to save three match points on his own serve in the ninth game, forcing Nadal to serve it out.
When del Potro's forehand swung wide on the fourth match point, Nadal slid to his back, then rose to his knees and lifted his arms in triumph, calling it one of the most emotional wins of his career.
