INDIAN WELLS, California (AFP) - Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic ousted defending champion Rafael Nadal in straight sets here Saturday to reach the final of the 5.7 million-dollar Pacific Life Open.

Djokovic, the third seed, defeated second-seeded Nadal 6-3, 6-2, turning the tables on the man who beat him in the final of this WTA and ATP Masters Series tournament last year.

Djokovic gained the upper hand in the second set with a service break in the fifth game as Nadal knocked a forehand wide. He broke again in the seventh game and took the match after an hour and 27 minutes when Nadal dumped a service return into the net.

After an early exchange of breaks in the opening set, Djokovic earned the key break in the eighth game - with a little help from the net cord on break point.

Between sets, Nadal received treatment on court for a troublesome toe. Djokovic now awaits the winner of the second semi-final between world number one Roger Federer and unseeded American Mardy Fish.

Fish, ranked 98th, landed his spot in the final four alongside the top three players in the world with a hard-fought 6-3, 6-7 (5/7), 7-6 (7/4) upset of seventh-seeded Argentinian David Nalbandian.

Federer, who is in search of his first title of 2008, advanced without firing a shot when scheduled opponent Tommy Haas of Germany withdrew with a sinus infection.

Fish has lost all five of his previous meetings with the Swiss superstar.