Federer, Wawrinka set up showdown in Indian Wells final

Indian Wells (California) March 19 (IANS) Swiss tennis great Roger Federer continued his strong run of form at the BNP Paribas Open defeating American Jack Sock to set up a title showdown against compatriot Stan Wawrinka.

Federer on Saturday raced out to a quick lead and wrapped up the first set of the semi-final match before the first ball change reports Efe.

Sock then managed to hold his serve throughout the second set but the 18-time Grand Slam champion won the tiebreaker handily to wrap up a 6-1 7-6 (7-4) victory.

Federer who routed arch-rival Rafael Nadal of Spain in the round of 16 has not lost his serve once in four matches and has only faced one break point.

Earlier Saturday the third-ranked Wawrinka made quick work of Spaniard Pablo Carreño Busta to reach his first Indian Wells final.

It s an amazing result to be in the final here especially in Indian Wells the Swiss three-time Slam winner said after his 6-3 6-2 victory. I am really happy with the way I m playing.

Saturday s semi-final win contrasted with Wawrinka s victories in the round of 16 and quarter-finals in which he was stretched to a third-set tiebreaker by both Japanese lucky loser Yoshihito Nishioka and Austria s Dominic Thiem.

The 10th-ranked Federer will be looking to win this hard-court ATP World Tour Masters 1000 event for the fifth time on Sunday.

--IANS
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