Milos Raonic defeated David Goffin, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, to reach his third Masters final at Indian Wells.
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Both Nadal and Djokovic eased through their Indian Wells quarter-final contests in straight sets on Friday and will now square off in a match worthy of a title clash.
Raonic, seeking a first elite Masters series title after two finals disappointments, faces the victor of a classic semi-final between nine-time French Open victor Rafael Nadal and world number one Novak Djokovic.
While Nadal was able to stave off four match points in his next service game, including battling back from 0-40 down, the left-hander sent a forehand long to hand Djokovic victory in a little under two hours.
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.
Nadal was expected to be given a rigorous test by the world No 6, but Nadal recovered from an early break disadvantage to seal a semi-final spot in California with a 6-4 6-3 win. “He’s a clear favourite because he’s winning all the matches nearly every time”, Nadal said of Djokovic.
“I think I played well for a set and a half”, Nadal assessed, “(and) then I think he played well the last.
Raonic roared through the first set in just 34 minutes but struggled in the second with his serve as he tried to increase speed without sacrificing other components of his game.
The second proved a more back-and-forth affair with Goffin making the crucial break in game eight before seeing out the job on his own serve on his third break point when Raonic netted with a forehand. But there have been some signs of frailty this year from the World No. 1. “It’s important to me to be able to recognize that and get the things back on the right track and play and finish off with some good tennis like I did”. He is now 14-1 in 2016 with a win at Brisbane, a semifinal trip in Australia and now a finals trip here.
“I’m really happy with the way I managed the important points…it was the key of the match, to win the first set and to be more relaxed in the second”.
It was clear from start that the first men’s quarterfinal Friday at the BNP Paribas Open would be over in straight sets.
However, if Nadal looks confident, his semi-final opponent looks impenetrable: Djokovic is already 19-1 this year, his only loss coming as a result of an eye infection in Dubai. “The second set was very close and I played the last three games very well”.
“He started so quick hitting all the balls very well, very aggressive, and serving great”, Nadal said.
“His serve was phenomenal… seems like he has improved even more, especially the second serve”.
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A three-time victor of the Indian Wells, Nadal last won the tournament in 2013, though Djokovic won the last two and three of the last five.
