INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) – Novak Djokovic defeated Andy Murray 6-2, 6-3 to reach the final of the BNP Paribas Open tennis tournament on Saturday, handing Murray his worst hard-court loss against the world’s top-ranked player since 2007.
Djokovic will play for his fourth career title in the desert in Sunday’s final against four-time champion Roger Federer, who beat sixth-seeded Milos Raonic 7-5, 6-4 in the other semi-final.
It will be the 38th career meeting between Djokovic and second-ranked Federer, who has won three of their last four. The Serb beat Federer in a third-set tiebreaker to claim last year’s title, and also beat him in three sets in the semi-finals here in 2011.
Third-seeded Simona Halep plays 2010 champion Jelena Jankovic in the women’s final Sunday. Halep advanced by walkover after top-ranked Serena Williams withdrew before their semi-final Friday night with a sprained right knee.
Djokovic and Murray were playing for the first time since he beat Murray in four sets for the Australian Open title in January.
In the women’s doubles final, top-seeded Martina Hingis and Sania Mirza defeated second-seeded Ekaterina Makarova and Elena Vesnina, 6-3, 6-4. Hingis last won the doubles at this event in 1999, and she was the singles champion the year before that.
Vasek Pospisil and Jack Sock beat Italians Simone Bolelli and Fabio Fognini 6-4, 6-7 (3), 10-7 for the men’s doubles title.