Serbia's Novak Djokovic continued his blistering pace this season by beating Roger Federer to reach the Indian Wells final and supersede the Swiss star as world No 2. Djokovic reached the final of the $4.5 million ATP Masters 1000 event by defeating Federer 6-3, 3-6, 6-2 Saturday to extend his match winning streak this season to 17.
"I am playing the best tennis of my life," said Djokovic, who won the Australian Open in January. "It was a very close match. A lot of emotions. You could feel the intensity." Djokovic, who won here in 2008, won 11 consecutive points in the third set to break open the match and post his third victory over 16-time major winner Federer in the past three months.
"My approach to the matches against Roger is maybe different than it was in the past two years," Djokovic said of Federer, who leads their overall series 13-9.
"Right now I kind of have more self-belief when I step on the court against him. Before it was, 'Let's hope that I can play well.'" Djokovic moves to Sunday's final, where he will face world No 1 Rafael Nadal, who beat Juan Martin del Potro 6-4, 6-4 earlier in the day.