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.

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.

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.
“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.

“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.”

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.”

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.
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.

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.