INDIAN WELLS, California (AFP) - Rafael Nadal defeated Juan Martin del Potro 4-6, 6-3, 6-4 on Sunday to win his third Indian Wells ATP Masters title.

Nadal cemented his return from a seven-month injury layoff with his first hard court title since 2010.

He came back in February to post a runner-up finish in Vina del Mar, followed by victories at Sao Paulo and Acapulco. But none of those modest clay court tournaments posed the challenge he faced at Indian Wells, where the field featured 49 of the top 50 players in the world.