Points won by each set: [ 27-30, 31-23, 37-33]
Points won directly behind the serve:
29 % Thiem – 28 of 97
22 % Federer – 19 of 84
The ~26-year-old Thiem [8], known as a clay-court specialist, had also won grass & indoor titles, this is his first hard-outdoors. The first 45 minutes Federer [4] was playing great tennis, mixing the pace with super precise dropshots, but squandered two break points at 1-all in the 2nd set and the match became complicated for him. Nevertheless in the 3rd set playing more offensive tennis, the Swiss was holding quite comfortably, had a mini-match point at 4:3 and at 5:4 he was two points away from victory – Thiem played a superb backhand passing shot (91 mph) and got the crucial break in the following game with three straight FH winners. “It’s unreal,” said Thiem. “It’s a pleasure to compete against Roger in this great final. I lost my last two Masters 1000 finals, but I won this one and it feels as nice as a Grand Slam. It was a great week and I think also a very good final today. Just amazing that I got here, my first really big title. I came from a really bad form in all categories and now I’m the champion of Indian Wells. It feels not real at all.” It’s the first time in the ATP history that after Indian Wells no player has won two titles (already 19 events this year). After two disappointing South American events, Thiem joined Nicolas Massu to his team and it paid automatically dividends. Federer has now played nine Indian Wells finals, won five (all 2-0), lost four (all 1-2)
Thiem’s route to his 12th title (first Masters 1K):
2 Jordan Thompson 6-4, 7-5
3 Gilles Simon 6-3, 6-1
4 Ivo Karlovic 6-4, 6-3
Q Gael Monfils w/o
S Milos Raonic 7-6(3), 6-7(3), 6-4
W Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-5