Second-seeded Novak Djokovic swept past unseeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau to set up a semi-final showdown with American John Isner at the Indian Wells ATP Masters.
Djokovic, a two-time champion in the California desert, needed just 68 minutes to power past Benneteau 6-1, 6-3.
The world number two didn't face a break point in the match, but had the chance to break Benneteau in all but the first of the Frenchman's service games.
"I have done everything I wanted," said Djokovic, who had been taken to three sets by his two previous opponents, Marin Cilic and Alejandro Gonzalez.
Against Gulbis, Isner saved a set point in the final game of the opening set to force a tiebreaker, then recovered an early second-set break en route to a 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3) victory.
The 12th-seeded American fired 13 aces, while Gulbis's seven aces were matched by seven double faults.
Isner, whose towering 2.08m height contributes to his fearsome serve, seized a 5-3 lead in the second set tiebreaker with an ace, then followed it up with a 141 mph (226.92 Km/h) service winner before firing a backhand winner past Gulbis on his first match point.
"I certainly hit my biggest sIsner said. "I think especially the second set one I was going after it with everything I had.
"They found their mark, too -- helped a lot."
Isner defeated then number one Djokovic in the semi-finals here in 2012 before falling to Roger Federer in the final.
Isner also beat Djokovic in the quarter-finals of the Cincinnati Masters last year.
