World No. 2 Novak Djokovic held on for a three-set win over American John Isner on Saturday to set up an Indian Wells ATP Masters title showdown with Roger Federer.
Federer, a four-time champion in the California desert who is seeded seventh this year, was in dominant form in a 6-3, 6-1 semi-final victory over Alexandr Dolgopolov.
Second-seeded Djokovic found the going much tougher against 12th-seeded Isner.
The towering 2.08m-tall American had beaten him in the semi-finals here in 2012 and gave the Serbian another scare before Djokovic pulled away in the third set for a 7-5, 6-7 (2/7), 6-1 triumph.
Djokovic twice served for the match in the second set, at 5-4 and 6-5, but Isner held him off and won the tiebreaker, sealing it with an ace on his second set point.
Isner, who received treatment on his left leg during the match, was broken twice in the final frame, double-faulting to give Djokovic a 3-1 lead.
After another break for 5-1, Djokovic stormed home, winning every point of the final game with a service winner.
“Twice I had chance to finish it out and I played two bad games, and he played an incredible tiebreaker,” Djokovic said. “And, you know, when you get to the tiebreaker with John Isner, whoever you are, you’re not a favorite.”
The Serbian, who won the title here in 2008 and 2011, was pleased with how he regrouped.
“I didn’t let my concentration drop,” he said. “Already next point I was back in the game where I needed to be.”
Yesterday, Djokovic was to face Federer for the 33rd time.
Federer’s slim 17-15 lead in their head-to-head includes a semi-final victory over Djokovic in Dubai last month.
Federer, winner of a record 17 Grand Slam titles, was chasing a 22nd ATP Masters crown.
He thwarted world No. 31 Dolgopolov’s bid to become just the sixth player to beat Rafael Nadal and Federer in the same tournament.
Federer put 72 percent of his first serves in play and did not face a break point in an efficient display before an adoring crowd at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden’s stadium court.
“It was one of my best serving days ever,” he said. “When you are serving like that, everything seems easier. I was just going for it out there.”
Federer seemed untroubled by the breezy conditions, and once he had gained the first service break of the match, for a 5-3 lead in the first set, he was hardly troubled by Dolgopolov.
Federer broke Dolgopolov in the opening game of the second set and held at love with one of his seven aces on game point for a 2-0 lead.
The Ukrainian fought to keep Federer at bay in the fifth game, saving four break points and giving himself four chances to win it, before Federer finally broke again when Dolgopolov’s lunging forehand sailed long.
By reaching the semi-finals, Federer is assured of returning to the top five in the world rankings for the first time since September last year.
If he wins a fifth title to go with those he captured in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012, he is projected to rise to No. 4 in the world.
The women’s final in the US$12 million combined ATP Masters and WTA tournament — between world No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska and Flavia Pennetta — was also to be contested yesterday.
Italian veteran Pennetta, who is ranked No. 21 in the world, stunned Chinese world No. 2 Li Na, the top seed, to reach the biggest final of her career.
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