Victorious comeback from Nadal

 Rafael Nadal continued his stunning return to action with victory over Juan Martin del Potro in the final of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The Spaniard, playing his first hard-court tournament in a year following a knee injury, won 4-6 6-3 6-4.

He adds Indian Wells to the clay-court titles he won in Brazil and Mexico since his comeback in February.

It was confirmed on Sunday that Nadal will not play in Miami next week, with European clay next on his schedule.

 He heads back to Europe having surpassed all expectations, ending the first stage of his comeback with victory in one of the biggest hard-court tournaments in tennis, which featured all the world's leading players.

Nadal says his left knee has good days and bad, and had played down his chances on the more punishing hard courts, but it appears he is already back to his best whatever the surface.

"It's probably one of the most emotional victories of my career," said Nadal.


/BBC/