Federer whips Del Potro, reaches Indian Wells final four
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Three-time champion Roger Federer cruised past Juan Martin del Potro to secure a berth in the semifinals at the $4.695 million BNP Paribas Masters.
The third-seeded former world No. 1 Federer leveled the ninth-seeded del Potro 6-3, 6-2 on the hardcourts at Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The match was over in 69 minutes, as Federer broke the big Argentine three times while holding his serve throughout in the lopsided affair. Federer swatted 13 aces, while del Potro was unable to produce even one on Day 9.
The 30-year-old Federer is now 11-2 lifetime against "Delpo," including a sparkling 4-0 record already this year. The Swiss great also topped the Argentine slugger in a final in Rotterdam last month and the Australian Open quarterfinals in January.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Del Potro stunned Federer in the 2009 U.S. Open finale.
Federer has now won his last 13 matches overall, after losing two straight, and is seeking a third title in three events.
His semifinal opponent on Saturday will be second-seeded Rafael Nadal or dangerous unseeded Argentine David Nalbandian.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 16-time Grand Slam titlist Federer captured three straight Indian Wells titles from 2004-06.
Saturday's other semi will pit world No. 1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic against 11th-seeded American favorite John Isner. Djokovic is 2-0 lifetime against the 6-foot-9 Isner, who has reached the semis in the last two ATP Masters events. He also appeared in the final four in Paris back in November.
The high-flying Djokovic also captured an Indian Wells title in 2008 and was the 2007 runner-up here to Nadal. The Serbian stalwart is the reigning Aussie Open, U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Indian Wells champ after beating Nadal in all of those finals.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The 2012 Indian Wells titlist will collect $1 million.