Djokovic sets up Indian Wells final with Federer

INDIAN WELLS: World number two 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.

But 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.

On Sunday, Djokovic will 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.

The women´s final in the $12 million (8.6 million euros) combined ATP Masters and WTA tournament -- between world number three Agnieszka Radwanska and Flavia Pennetta -- will also be contested on Sunday.

Italian veteran Pennetta, ranked 21st in the world, stunned Chinese world number two Li Na, the top seed, to reach the biggest final of her career. (AFP)