Djokovic sinks Fish to seal Indian Wells title

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - World number three Novak Djokovic held off a fightback by American Mardy Fish to win the Pacific Life Open final 6-2 5-7 6-3 on Sunday and secure his second prestigious ATP title of the year.

Two months after claiming his first grand slam crown at the Australian Open, the third-seeded Serb broke Fish once in the final set before sealing victory in just over two hours.

The 20-year-old Djokovic made a fast start, winning the first six points of the match and breaking Fish in the second game when the 98th-ranked American hit a forehand long.

Although Fish broke back in the fifth, forcing a backhand error by his opponent with a searing forehand service return, he failed to hold serve in the sixth.

A protracted game featuring high-quality rallies ended when Fish pushed a backhand wide and double-faulted to trail 2-4.

Djokovic held for 5-2 and again broke in the eighth when the American double-faulted to take the opening set in 35 minutes.

The second set went with serve until breaks were exchanged in the sixth and seventh games, the Serb throwing his racket in frustration after double-faulting for his lead to be pegged back to 4-3.

Fish, beginning to replicate the form he produced the previous day to stun world number one Roger Federer, piled on the pressure in the 11th before breaking when Djokovic netted a backhand.