Carlos Alcaraz said his successful Indian Wells title defense was all the sweeter because he felt he had found himself in the California desert after a difficult few months.
The Spaniard, 20, had not won a title since clinching his second major crown at last year's Wimbledon until he beat Russian Daniil Medvedev 7-6 (7/5), 6-1.
Alcaraz said the title drought had not bothered him but, struggling with injury, he felt he had lost his way a bit.
"I didn't enjoy stepping on the court. I wasn't myself on the court the last two months, three months, so it was difficult for me," he said. "It means a lot to me, lifting this trophy."
Alcaraz started the year with a quarter-final exit at the Australian Open before being knocked out in the semi-finals in Buenos Aires and retiring from his first match in Rio de Janeiro with an ankle injury.
Enjoying his tennis was important to Alcaraz, he said, and nothing was more likely to bring out his trademark grin than winning a point with the "special shot" he produced to get past Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals and Medvedev.
"And points like this one, doesn't matter if I win it or lose it, it puts a smile on my face," the world No 2 said.
In women's singles, top-ranked Iga Swiatek dominated ninth seed Maria Sakkari 6-4, 6-0 to claim the title for a second time.
