Ivan Ljubicic set his sights on a first Masters Series title after dispatching defending champion Rafael Nadal in three sets in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

Ivan Ljubicic set his sights on a first Masters Series title after dispatching defending champion Rafael Nadal in three sets in the semi-finals of the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.

The Croatian, seeded 20, beat the third seed 3-6 6-4 7-6 (7/1) in two hours 34 minutes to set up a final meeting with Andy Roddick.

The big-serving American saw off Andy Murray's conqueror Robin Soderling 6-4 3-6 6-3 in one hour 46 minutes.

Ljubicic fired down 17 aces, including eight in the decider, in the first semi-final.

There was little sign of an upset when the Spaniard broke twice to take the opening set, his opponent having real trouble on his second serve, winning just 18% of points on it.

Ljubicic dug in, though, saving five break points in the second set and taking one of his two to level the match.

Nadal's serve was starting to falter, his 65% success rate on first serves in the opening set falling to 48% in the second.

There was a break apiece in the third, Nadal recovering from dropping his serve early on, but it was Ljubicic who seized the initiative when it mattered in the tie-break to send Nadal crashing out.

"Probably the best I've ever played in my career," said Ljubicic, who has lost his three previous Masters Series finals.

"I enjoyed it, really. Great, great moment, and the fourth Masters final, four different Masters, so I hope this one is going to be finally the victory. We'll see tomorrow.

"I would love to have that win tomorrow, because it would mean the world to me.

"I really feel like 2005, 2006 when I played my best tennis - I deserved that one Masters. Tomorrow I'm going to have another chance to go for it."

In the second last-four match, Roddick converted the only break point of the first set to take the advantage against Sweden's Soderling, who had looked in imperious form in his straight-sets dismantling of Murray yesterday.

Soderling broke twice in the next, dropping his own serve once, to level the match as Roddick's second serve let him down.

The American picked it up in the decider, though, and this time it was he who got the two crucial breaks to move into the final.