The top two seeds at this year’s BNP Paribas Open will battle it out for the chance to win the title in Sunday’s final after Novak Djokovic overcame Andy Murray and Roger Federer saw off Milos Raonic.
Djokovic thrashed his good friend Andy Murray for the second time this season, this time in straight sets. The world number one made life uncomfortable for the Scot in the Indian Wells semi-final, finding his baseline rhythm right from the start and ultimately breaking him early to race out to a 3-0 lead.
As the set drew to a close the defending champion showed no signs of letting up, his relentless play from the back of the court was too much for Murray who was broken for a second time. Djokovic emphatically claimed the opener, breaking his opponent again, this time to love, taking it 6-2.
The second set, much to Murray’s dismay was like the first; the Serb produced more punishing play and again raced to an early lead as the score went to 3-0. The world number one didn’t have it all his way, missing a chance to take the match on Murray’s serve at 5-2, but Djokovic held firm and finished it off on his own serve taking the match 6-2 6-3 in just 1 hour and 28 minutes.
Djokovic managed to produce a near-perfect performance, managing to capitalize on 67 per cent of his break point chances, winning 63 per cent of first serve points won and 70 per cent of second serve points won. Djokovic’s excellent play was coupled with a sluggish serving day from Murray, who only managed to win 48 per cent of points behind his own serve.
Djokovic will face Roger Federer in a blockbuster final after the masterful Swiss denied Milos Raonic a second Masters 1000 win against him, winning the match 7-5 6-4.
Raonic put up a stern test in the first set, holding his serve firmly despite Federer getting a sniff at a break point chance in the fifth game. The Canadian promptly composed himself and saved it in style with a 138mph ace, eventually holding. Federer didn’t stay down for long, breaking Raonic for a 6-5 lead when the Canadian hit a backhand long. The Swiss went on to win the first set in a testing 45 minutes.
Federer pounced early in the second set to break Raonic in his first game to lead 2-0. The second seed continued his excellent display and remained untroubled throughout much of the second set, saving the only break point he faced.
Like Djokovic, Federer also enjoyed a good serving day, winning 76 per cent of first serve points throughout the entire match. Despite enduring a barrage of nine aces from his opponent Federer was able to clinch the victory in just 86 minutes, reaching his 40th ATP World Tour Masters 1000 final. It will be Federer’s fifteenth appearance in Indian Wells, the 33-year-old Swiss is looking to win his fifth title.
Federer will take a 19-set win streak, dating back since the beginning of Dubai into Sunday’s final which will mark the 38th meeting between the World No. 1 and No. 2. Federer faced Djokovic in last year’s final, but lost in a tight three sets match, however it was the Swiss who got the better of the world number one in their lasting meeting back Dubai.
