Roger Federer's on track for a record fifth title at the Indian Wells Masters tennis tournament in California, after the Swiss great defeated Canadian Milos Raonic 7-5 6-4 to reach the final against defending champion Novak Djokovic.
Roger Federer's gunning for a record fifth title at the Indian Wells Masters Photo: Photosport
The Serbian world number one earlier crushed the Scot Andy Murray 6-2 6-3 in the other semi-final.
Raonic had gatecrashed the top-four semis by taking down Spanish ace Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals, but he was no match for world number two Federer, who needed a break of serve in each set to clinch the decider against Djokovic.
Milos Raonic saw off Rafa Nadal to book his semi-final against Roger Federer Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Djokovic was even more dominant against the fourth-seeded Murray in the other semi in a re-match of this year's Australian Open final, won by the Serb in four sets.
On the women's side, American star Serena Williams withdrew before the start of her semi-final due to a knee problem, cutting short her return to the event following a 14-year boycott.
World number one Williams, who has been absent from Indian Wells since winning the event in 2001 after claiming racist abuse from fans, says she would not be able to give her all for the remainder of the tournament and decided to pull out.
The decision put her opponent, Romania's Simona Halep, into the final against Serbian Jelena Jankovic, who beat Sabine Lisicki of Germany in three sets.
