• BNP Paribas Open

Wozniacki fends off Bartoli to seal Indian Wells title

Caroline Wozniacki overcame a second-set blip to claim the title in Indian Wells © Getty Images

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Caroline Wozniacki demonstrated all her battling qualities to defeat Marion Bartoli 6-1 2-6 6-3 to claim the BNP Paribas title.

Bartoli produced a brilliant win in the semi-finals to become the first Frenchwoman to reach the final at Indian Wells. She looked like being blown away early on, but settled in to the match to threaten an upset. But with her back against the wall, world No. 1 Wozniacki found her best form to seal victory.

Wozniacki took just four games to secure a break of serve. The Dane has looked to play far more aggressively in the early weeks of the season and she worked Bartoli around the court with some glorious angles before securing the break when her French opponent threw a backhand into the net.

Bartoli saved two set points, the second courtesy of a glorious volley, but the third proved beyond her as Wozniacki found a glorious forehand pass to wrap up the set in 28 minutes. The Frenchwoman, winner of five career titles, stepped things up at the start of the second set and it reaped dividends. She set up a break of serve with a sumptuous lob and broke through with a fantastic drive down the line.

Securing the break of serve filled Bartoli with confidence and she produced subtle changes of play to confuse Wozniacki and wrapped up the second set in emphatic style with a second break of serve.

Questions have been raised about Wozniacki's standing as world No. 1 but there is no questioning her fighting qualities and she showed this by finding a break of serve at the start of the third set.

Bartoli saved three break points on her following service game and whipped up the crowd by holding, but Wozniacki kept up the relentless pressure and the Dane secured a break in the following game to claim a double break.

Bartoli appeared troubled by a shoulder problem but she refused to throw in the towel and broke back to trail 4-3 but Wozniacki kept her nerve to wrap up the title - saving arguably her best play for the final game by running down ball after ball before outwitting Bartoli with a backhand at full stretch.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.