Indian Wells (California), Mar 18: World number 11 John Isner toppled world number one and defending champion Novak Djokovic 7-6 (9/7), 3-6, 7-6 (7/5) on Saturday to reach the final of the ATP Indian Wells Masters.
America's Isner reached the first Masters final of his career, and will face either world number two Rafael Nadal or world number three Roger Federer in Sunday's final.
Isner's first victory over a world number one ensures he will move into the top 10 in the world rankings for the first time.
For Djokovic, 24, it marked a second straight semi-final defeat after he fell at the same stage in Dubai to Andy Murray earlier this month.
Reigning Australian Open champ Djokovic is now 14-2 on the season. Isner closed the two hour, 45 minute match out with his 20th ace.
Djokovic, who saved a match point in the 12th game of the third set to force the tiebreaker and saved two match points on his own serve in the final tiebreaker before Isner closed it out, finished with eight aces and two double faults.
Isner, who is also in the men's doubles final with partner Sam Querrey, fought off a break point with a 143 mph ace in the seventh game of the third set, then took the game and a 4-3 lead with a nice forehand to the open court that Djokovic couldn't reach.
One of the sport's great rivalries was on display in the second semifinal as Federer and Nadal met, although rain that began just as the first semifinal ended delayed the start of their match.
Reigning French Open champ Nadal and 16-time Grand Slam winner Federer have met 27 times previously but never before on the hardcourts at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.
Nadal has the edge over his Swiss foe having won 18 times, including four of the last five. This marks their second meeting of this year after Nadal beat Federer in the semifinals at the Australian Open.
