<p>Red-hot Djokovic, who will replace Swiss Federer as world number two when the new rankings are issued on Monday, broke his opponent three times in a third set of brilliant shot-making to triumph in just over two hours. <br /><br />The 23-year-old Serb will face top seed Rafael Nadal for the title on Sunday, the Spanish left-hander having come from 1-4 down to power past former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-4, 6-4 in Saturday’s first semifinal. <br /><br />Nadal, covering the court with lightning speed, broke del Potro’s serve three times in a high-quality encounter at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden to win in one hour 51 minutes. <br />“That was the biggest test of the tournament for me today,” Australian Open champion Djokovic said courtside after sealing victory when a Federer backhand service return flew long. “Any time I play Roger, it’s a big challenge. <br /><br />“I didn’t really pay too much attention on who is favourite or number one, number two in the rankings. I just wanted to take that match as another big challenge. It was very good.” <br /><br />Djokovic, roared on by flag-waving Serbian fans, felt the fifth game of the third set, when he came from 15-40 down on Federer’s serve to win 11 points in a row, had paved the way for his third successive victory over the Swiss this year. “It was a very close match up to the last point and you really couldn’t say who’s going take the win,” the Serbian world number three said. “That fifth game was crucial.” <br /><br />A mouth-watering final set was on the cards after Djokovic won the first set and Federer the second, each of them after breaking twice with scintillating form from the baseline. <br />At that point, the ice-cool Federer appeared to have the momentum but it was short-lived as he failed to hold serve in the opening game of the third set. Although he broke back with a dazzling display in the fourth when his opponent double-faulted, the Swiss failed to hold serve in the fifth and seventh games as the Serb took control with steadier tennis. <br /><br />Serving in a hotly contested eighth game, 2008 champion Djokovic squandered one match point before booking his place in the final on the second attempt when a fading Federer pushed a backhand service return long.</p>
<p>Red-hot Djokovic, who will replace Swiss Federer as world number two when the new rankings are issued on Monday, broke his opponent three times in a third set of brilliant shot-making to triumph in just over two hours. <br /><br />The 23-year-old Serb will face top seed Rafael Nadal for the title on Sunday, the Spanish left-hander having come from 1-4 down to power past former US Open champion Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina 6-4, 6-4 in Saturday’s first semifinal. <br /><br />Nadal, covering the court with lightning speed, broke del Potro’s serve three times in a high-quality encounter at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden to win in one hour 51 minutes. <br />“That was the biggest test of the tournament for me today,” Australian Open champion Djokovic said courtside after sealing victory when a Federer backhand service return flew long. “Any time I play Roger, it’s a big challenge. <br /><br />“I didn’t really pay too much attention on who is favourite or number one, number two in the rankings. I just wanted to take that match as another big challenge. It was very good.” <br /><br />Djokovic, roared on by flag-waving Serbian fans, felt the fifth game of the third set, when he came from 15-40 down on Federer’s serve to win 11 points in a row, had paved the way for his third successive victory over the Swiss this year. “It was a very close match up to the last point and you really couldn’t say who’s going take the win,” the Serbian world number three said. “That fifth game was crucial.” <br /><br />A mouth-watering final set was on the cards after Djokovic won the first set and Federer the second, each of them after breaking twice with scintillating form from the baseline. <br />At that point, the ice-cool Federer appeared to have the momentum but it was short-lived as he failed to hold serve in the opening game of the third set. Although he broke back with a dazzling display in the fourth when his opponent double-faulted, the Swiss failed to hold serve in the fifth and seventh games as the Serb took control with steadier tennis. <br /><br />Serving in a hotly contested eighth game, 2008 champion Djokovic squandered one match point before booking his place in the final on the second attempt when a fading Federer pushed a backhand service return long.</p>