Djokovic bests Nadal again

Defending champion and top seed Novak Djokovic moved a step closer to a fifth title at Indian Wells with a 7-6(5), 6-2 victory over long-time rival Rafa Nadal in the semifinals of the BNP Paribas Open in California on Saturday.

Djokovic and Nadal treated the fans to several compelling rallies at the sun-baked Indian Wells Tennis Garden but the Serb, for the most part, held the upper hand and broke his opponent twice in the second set to secure victory.

After a protracted encounter that lasted nearly two hours, Australian Open champion Djokovic booked his place in Sunday's final where he will meet Canadian Milos Raonic, a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3 winner against Belgian David Goffin.

Breaks of serve were traded in the second and third games of an eagerly awaited showdown, before Nadal later squandered a set point in the 10th game when he netted a forehand.

Though the Spaniard came from 2-5 down in the tiebreak to level at 5-5, Djokovic edged ahead 6-5 after a strong first serve before clinching the set after a little more than an hour when his opponent netted a backhand.

Nadal came under increasing pressure to hold serve in the second set as Djokovic dominated their baseline exchanges and the Spanish left-hander finally cracked in the sixth game when he dumped another forehand into the net to trail 2-4.

Serving at 2-5, Nadal clawed his way back from 0-40 and saved five match points in all before another tired shot from the baseline sailed long to hand victory to Djokovic.