Djoker has the last laugh

After Federer,Serbian downs World No. 1 Rafael Nadal for his third titlein as many tournaments,stretches unbeaten record to 18 on the tour.

Having proved himself invincible so far this year on hardcourt surfaces,Novak Djokovic has set his sights on excelling in the claycourt season that follows.

The Serb won the 18th consecutive match of his 2011 campaign with a 4-6,6-3,6-2 victory over top seed Rafa Nadal in the final of the Indian Wells ATP tournament on Sunday and was eager to keep his red-hot run going. I am extremely happy with the way Im playing and with the success that Im having, Djokovic told reporters after beating the Spanish world number one for a fourth time in their last six encounters. But I know that the season is very long,and I dont want to be too euphoric about the win. I need to celebrate a little bit,and then move on.

The Serb shrugged off the loss of the opening set to outlast Nadal in a gripping match lasting two hours 25 minutes. Djokovic,who overcame Swiss world number two Roger Federer in the last four,broke Nadal twice early in the final set,before sealing victory when the Spanish left-hander netted a forehand. It was the Serbs second triumph in the elite ATP Masters 1000 event at Indian Wells,having first won the title here as a 20-year-old in 2008.

Asked if he felt unbeatable Djokovic,who will replace Swiss Roger Federer as world number two in the new rankings,said,I do have the best period of my life on the tennis court,but nobody is invincible. You are just trying to play your best in each match youre playing.

I had a great clay court season in 2009 and 2008,and Ive always played well at Roland Garros, he said of the French Open. In order to win trophies on that surface,big ones,I will need to be physically very,very fit. As the slowest surface,it requires a lot of physical strength and endurance and I have been working hard on it for a while. I will definitely pay attention to it more.

The transition

Nadal,the greatest claycourt player of his generation and arguably of all time,felt the ultimate success of Djokovics 2011 campaign could hinge on how effectively he transitioned from the hardcourt season. Right now hes playing on his favourite surface,because hard court and outdoor I think is when he plays better, the Spanish left-hander said. He is in confidence,hes playing well,hes very good player. We will see when he loses (for) the first time (this year). I dont know if its gonna happen in Miami or happen in Monte Carlo or not gonna happen, Nadal added with a laugh.

Title for Wozniacki

On the womens side,top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki beat 15th-seeded Marion Bartoli 6-1,2-6,6-3 to win the title. Bartoli was playing her first final since 2009 and is projected to return to the Top 10 in the rankings for the first time since June 2008.Mark Lamport-Stokes