Nadal Wins BNP Paribas

World No. 1 Rafael Nadal recaptured the BNP Paribas Open title after posting an overwhelming 6-1, 6-2 victory over Andy Murray on a windy Sunday in Indian Wells. He collects $605,500 and 1000 South African Airways 2009 ATP Rankings points as the winner of the first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament of the 2009 season.

Having also won the Australian Open in January, Nadal's Indian Wells victory virtually assures that the Spaniard will qualify for the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals at the O2 Arena in London in November. The event features the best eight players and best eight doubles teams of the year.

World No. 4 Murray, who advanced to the BNP Paribas Open for the first time after defeating Roger Federer in the semi-finals, proved no match for Nadal. The ATP World Tour Champion won the final five games of each set as he converted four of his five break point chances during the one-hour, 20-minute match.

Nadal has now won 13 ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles (13-4 in finals), placing him just one behind Federer and four behind all-time leader Andre Agassi. He has won at least two ATP World Tour Masters 1000 titles in each of the past four years, capturing a personal-best four in 2005.

Fourth seed Vera Zvonareva completed the sweep of the singles and doubles titles at the 2009 BNP Paribas Open as she defeated defending champion Ana Ivanovic 7-6(5), 6-2 on Sunday in Indian Wells.