Sixth seed Jelena Jankovic claimed the BNP Paribas Open title with a 6-2 6-4 victory over Danish teenager Caroline Wozniacki.
The former world No.1 set up the win with three breaks of serve in the opening set and broke immediately in the second to clinch her first title since Cincinnati in August last year.
Jankovic had endured a below-par season before arriving at Indian Wells for the first Masters Series event of the year and had made a first-round exit in her previous tournament in Monterrey.
But after rediscovering some of her best form in California the 25-year-old Serbian swept past the rising talent of Wozniacki to win in one hour and 24 minutes.
The disappointment of defeat for 19-year-old Wozniacki should be tempered slightly, however, with her progress to the final set to see her rise to a career-high ranking of No.2 when the new rankings are released on Monday.
Wozniacki's cause was not helped in the first set as she won just 30 percent of points on her first serve.
Jankovic then closed in on the title when she immediately broke in the first game of the second set.
It was all she needed as she held serve thereafter to lift the title.
Jankovic admitted her fast start had been the cornerstone to her win, as she maintained a perfect record against Wozniacki in four meetings.
"I think I was ready from the start," said Jankovic.
"I really went out there knowing my game plan, what I needed to do. I wanted to be really aggressive, but at the same time patient and not really go for too much or go over the limit with some balls."
"But I waited for my opportunities, and when I had them, I took them."
Wozniacki was disappointed with the manner of her defeat as she lost four of five break points she faced.
"I tried to change it when I saw it was not going [my] way, but I just made a few too many errors at the important points," she said.
"I couldn't really get to play the game that I wanted to play. Jelena took advantage of that and she played a great match."
"But when I think back on this tournament, I think I've done a great job."
"It was a strong field, and then coming out as a finalist and then coming out as No.2 in the world tomorrow, that's still a great feeling."