One was close and lasted 140 minutes, the other was a quick straight sets win.
Roger Federer (1) was involved in the three setter with unseeded Borna Coric and no one expected the trouble found by the Swiss ace, five time champion here previously.
In the opening set, Coric hit the ball consistently with great depth and power, finding Federer out of position on more occasions than normal, and the error count from the top seed was also unusually that of a mere mortal.
Coric broke in the eleventh game and served out the set to lead 7-5.
This was the first set lost by Federer for the tournament, and only the fourth dropped for the year.
Breaking Federer immediately in set two, Coric maintained his advantage through seven games, and was serving for a 5-3 lead.
However, Federer was now back to his intimidating best, and Coric began to struggle with his serve.
Wrapping up the last three games, Federer levelled the match 5-7 6-4.
Although Coric once again was ahead a break in the decider (twice), it was Federer who had the poise when required and he ran out the victor 5-7 6-4 6-4.
The 17-0 start to 2018 is the best for Federer in his decorated career, moving past his incredible 2006 where 16-0 was his beginning.
The opponent for Federer in the Indian Wells final will be Juan Martin del Potro (6), who made light work of Milos Raonic (32) 6-2 6-3 in the second semi final.
Raonic relies on his big serve to a large degree, but in this match del Potro took the initiative, winning 24 of 27 points from his first serve, facing no break points, and breaking the Canadian delivery four times from five chances.
Fittingly two Grand Slam champions will play the final here, and they have clashed in finals five times in the past, del Potro winning three of those, the most prestigious the 2009 US Open.
Surprisingly the Argentine has yet to lift a Masters 1000 trophy, and Federer won’t make it easy for a first one on Sunday.
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