• Indian Wells

Federer and Djokovic set up blockbuster final

ESPN staff
March 15, 2014
Roger Federer steamrolled into the final at Indian Wells, a tournament he has won four times © AP
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Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic will renew their rivalry in Sunday's final at Indian Wells after coming throught two very different semi-finals on Saturday.

Federer put in a blistering performance as he cruised into the final at Indian Wells with a 6-3 6-1 over Alexandr Dolgopolov.

Dolgopolov had previously beaten three higher-ranked players on his way to the last four, including Rafael Nadal in the third round, but the Ukrainian struggled in windy conditions and failed in his bid to become just the fifth player to beat Nadal and Federer in the same tournament.

Federer was coolly efficient on a hot day in the desert, firing seven aces and connecting on 72 percent of his first serves in the match that lasted barely an hour.

Federer never faced a break point on his serve while breaking Dolgopolov four times, including a seven-deuce game to go up 4-1 in the second set. Dolgopolov had a chance to win that game four times, but each time his unforced error brought it back to deuce.

Djokovic, meanwhile, uncharacteristically squandered two chances when serving for the match in the second set against John Isner - but eventually went on to win 7-5 6-7(2) 6-1.

The world No.2 had a chance to serve for the win at both 5-4 and 6-5 in the second set - but both times Isner broke back to love to force a tie-break that he went on to win.

Djokovic, visibly irked, shifted through the gears and gave Isner no chance in the third.

Should Federer go on to claim his fifth Indian Wells title, he will return to the top four in the rankings for the first time since before Wimbledon last year.

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