Unseeded Fish Ousts Federer, Meets Djokovic In The Pacific Life Open Final

Indian Wells, CA (AHN) - Swiss Star Roger Federer, who seemed almost invincible for most of the five years, has lost again, looking vulnerable this season so far.

Mardy Fish, who had strung a series of upsets at the Pacific Life Open in Indian Wells pulled the biggest upset in recent tennis history by stunning No.1 Federer in straight sets Saturday with a lopsided score - - 6-3, 6-2 advancing into Sunday's final against No. 3 Novak Djokovic who ousted defending champion Rafael Nadal by the same score.

Fish, ranked 98th , never defeated as many as two top 10 players in one tournament, amassed a total of three victories before defeating Federer. He got past No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko and No. 7 David Nalbandian, before ousting No. 24 Lleyton Hewitt.

Federer hasn't reached a final and has lost three times, including a loss to eventual champion Djokovic in the Australian Open semifinals, and recently to Andy Murray in the first round at the Dubai Open. He was slowed by mononucleosis early in the season

The 26-year-old Federer, who breezed through his first three matches at Indian Wells without losing a set and in the quarterfinals had a walkover when Tommy Haas withdrew because of a sinus infection, was completely groping for form particularly in his backhand. He only managed to make one winner and had 13 unforced errors with his backhand.

Fish hit at total of 26 winners against Federer's 14. He also served seven aces in contrast to Federer's two and was kept at bay by Fish, who kept attacking the lines with hard groundstrokes.

The 26-year-old Fish ended Federer's 41-match win streak against Americans since 2003 when he Andy Roddick beat him for the first time in their six meetings.

Said Fish: "This obviously wasn't Roger's best day, but hopefully I had a little something to do with that. I put the pressure, extremely, on him from the word go."

Fish, who reached his highest ranking, No. 17, four years ago due to various illness, is the lowest-ranked player to beat Federer since 2005 when then number 101, Richard Gasquet beat the world number one at Monte Carlo.

Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic, avenged last year's loss in Indian Wells final to defending champion Rafael Nadal of Spain by defeating the Spaniard 6-3, 6-2 advancing to the final against Fish.

Djokovic, ranked No. 3, served eight aces against Nadal's two in a match that saw spectacular rallies with the Serbian ending those rallies by driving winners down the lines with Nadal missing a shot.

Said Djokovic: "I need to stay calm and just go step by step and try to get to my lifetime goal, which is to be No. 1."

"It's getting closer, but still, I don't want to go too fast and skip some things. I really need to be consistent with my results in the most important events, major events," he adds.