Rafael Nadal has won his third title in four tournaments since returning from a seven-month injury layoff. In the BNP Paribas Open final at Indian Wells, United States, last night, the Spaniard beat Juan Martin del Potro in three sets 4-6, 6-3, 6-4. In the women's final of the event, Maria Sharapova defeated Caroline Wozniacki 6-2, 6-2 to win her first title of the year. For Sharapova, it was her second career title at Indian Wells, where she first won in 2006. Wozniacki won the title in the event in 2011. The women met in a final for the first time; their six other matches came in earlier rounds. Nadal improved to a career-best 17 wins from 18 matches this year, including 14 straight wins. He has won three titles, two on clay while runner-up in another on his favorite surface, since returning from a left knee injury. Indian Wells is his first hard-court title since Tokyo in October 2010, having lost in six previous finals on the surface. He won his 600th career match and will move to No. 4 in the rankings released Monday.