Re-living Novak Djokovic's 5 title runs at Indian Wells

Novak Djokovic has an enviable Masters 1000 resume. Among all players to have lifted a title in the tournament series, Djokovic's win-loss record (355-79) is only behind that of all-time title leader Rafael Nadal's tally of 384-79.

One of three players to have appeared in 50 Masters 1000 finals and to have played the final at all 9 Masters 1000 tournaments on the tennis calendar, Djokovic's 34 titles in the tournament category is only dwarfed by Nadal (35).

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The 32-year-old Serb, who is on an unbeaten 18-0 run in 2020 which encompasses title runs at the Australian Open and Dubai, has won multiple titles in a season for a 15th consecutive season, which is only one shy of Nadal's record (2005 to 2019).

Djokovic, whose no. 1 ranking is up for grabs at 2020 Indian Wells, is a multiple-time titlist at the first Masters 1000 tournament on the tennis calendar. On that note, let us have a look at the 17-time Grand Slam champion title runs at Indian Wells.

#1 2008: Beats Mardy Fish 6-2, 5-7, 6-3

Djokovic poses with his first Indian Wells title in 2008.

A year after losing to Nadal in his first Masters 1000 final at 2007 Indian Wells, Djokovic beat the defending champion for the loss of just five games in the semifinals to reach consecutive title matches at the tournament.

In the final against local hope Mardy Fish, Djokovic dropped the second set before taking a three-set win to become the 12th different player to triumph at Indian Wells in the Masters 1000 era.

The triumph was Djokovic's third at a Masters 1000 tournament following his two successful title runs in the tournament category at 2007 Miami and 2007 Coupe Rogers.

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#2 2011: Beats Rafael Nadal 4-6, 6-3, 6-2

Djokovic lifts his second Indian Wells title in 2011.

After falling to reach the semifinals in each of his appearances at the tournament following his maiden title in 2008, Djokovic won his second title at Indian Wells in 2011.

The Serb, in the midst of one of the best ever starts to an ATP season, beat Andrey Golubev, Ernests Gulbis, Viktor Troicki, and Richard Gasquet in straight sets before taking out 5-time champion Roger Federer in a three-set semifinal to reach his 3rd Indian Wells title match in 5 years.

In the final against then two-time Indian Wells winner Nadal, Djokovic recovered from the loss of the opening set against the top seed before dropping only five games in the remainder of the match to win his second title at the tournament.

The title triumph extended Djokovic's winning start to the season to 18-0 which would swell to 41-0 before he endured his first defeat of the season in the Roland Garros semifinals against Federer.

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#3 2014: Beats Roger Federer 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(3)

Djokovic celebrates his 3rd Indian Wells title in 2014.

In one of his tougher title runs at the tournament in 2014, Djokovic beat Viktor Hansescu in straight sets before needing consecutive three-set matches to see off Alejandro Gonzalez and Marin Cilic respectively.

A straight-set win over Julien Benneteau in the quarterfinals was followed by two more matches which went the distance. Djokovic took out John Isner in the semifinals before recovering from a set down to deny Federer a 5th Indian Wells title by beating the Swiss maestro in a third set tiebreak.

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#4 2015: Beats Roger Federer 6-3, 6-7(5), 6-2

Djokovic lifts his 4th Indian Wells title in 2015.

Following successive straight-set wins over Marcos Baghdatis, Albert-Ramos Vinolas, and John Isner, Djokovic earned a 'walkover' win over Bernard Tomic to reach the 2015 Indian Wells semifinals.

The Serb then took out good friend Andy Murray for the loss of just five games to set up a final re-match with 4-time champion Federer whom he had beaten in a deciding set tiebreak in the final the previous year.

Continuing his strong start to the season, Djokovic took the opening set 6-3 before Federer prolonged the contest by taking the second set on a tiebreak. The then 27-year-old Serb reasserted his supremacy in the third to deny Federer the title for the second consecutive year, thereby joining the Swiss maestro (4) for most Indian Wells in the Masters 1000 era.

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#5 2016: Beats Milos Raonic 6-2, 6-0

Djokovic lifts a record-5th Indian Wells title in 2016.

Since dropping the first set against American Bjorn Fratangelo in the opening round in the 2015 edition of the tournament, Djokovic reeled off consecutive straight-set wins over Philipp Kohlschreiber, Feliciano Lopez, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, and Rafael Nadal to return to the Indian Wells final for the third straight year.

In the title match against the big-serving Milos Raonic, Djokovic dropped only two games as he became the first player in the Masters 1000 era to lift 5 Indian Wells titles.

The title triumph made the Serb the only player apart from Federer to accomplish a 'three peat' at the tournament.

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