Novak Djokovic won the Pacific Life Open by ending Mardy Fish's fairytale run at Indian Wells.

The world number three beat Fish 6-2 5-7 6-3 to avoid the same fate that befell Roger Federer in the semi-final.

Djokovic followed up his own semi-final rout of Rafael Nadal by halting a magnificent week by Fish, who defeated three top-10 opponents, including the world number one.

Fish did not succumb easily, rallying from a 4-2 deficit in the second set by breaking the Serb twice to force a decisive third set.

Djokovic, though, broke the unseeded American in the second game for a 2-0 lead en route to his second title of the year after his maiden grand slam at the Australian Open.

It was the second straight appearance in the final for Djokovic, who lost to Nadal a year ago.

The loss denied Fish his third career title and first since Houston last year.

During his improbable run to the final here, Fish reeled off victories over number 31 Igor Andreev, fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko, two-time champion Lleyton Hewitt, world number seven David Nalbandian and Federer.

Ranked 98th in the world, Fish handed Federer his heaviest defeat since the Swiss superstar became world number one 215 weeks ago.

Djokovic improved to 2-0 lifetime against Fish, having also beaten him at the US Open in 2006.

Djokovic said of his stunning start to the season: "It's been a dream start, of course.

"Before I started playing this season, I said that my two goals are to be consistent with the results, I reach the Masters (Cup) and hopefully win one Grand Slam. I did all that in a very, very small amount of time."

Fish, meanwhile, drew on the positives that came from his impressive run at the tournament and is keen to keep the momentum going.

"I think one thing has to be stated that I did play about as well as I can," he said.

"I know I came in here and I was slightly subdued, probably because I just didn't really realise what had happened to get a few wins against players like that, and to play a match like today and be in there.

"It would be really nice to take this momentum and take this confidence into next week (in Miami)."

Djokovic's win made it a Serbian double after top seed Ana Ivanovic beat Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-4 6-3 to take the women's title.