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Andy Roddick qualifies for final in San Jose

Andy Roddick returns the ball to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez during their semi-final match of the SAP Open tennis tournament in San Jose, California, on Saturday. PHOTO: AP

Andy Roddick punched his ticket to the final of the US$436,000 ATP tennis tournament in San Jose on Saturday with a straight-sets win over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Roddick defeated the unseeded Spaniard 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 to line up a clash with fourth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek.

Roddick was in the semi-finals at the event for the fifth-straight year, and the sixth time overall.

The 25-year-old American won back-to-back titles here in 2004-2005, but was ousted in the semi-finals by eventual champion Andy Murray each of the last two years.

Scotland's Murray chose not to defend his title this year, preferring instead to stay in Europe.

Roddick, who is seeking his 24th career title, fired 16 aces to Garcia-Lopez's four.

He won 84 percent of his first-serve points while saving the lone break point he faced.

It was the second victory in as many matches between the two for Roddick, who also beat Garcia-Lopez in 2006.

Stepanek, who is seeking his third career title, rallied to beat US wild card Robby Ginepri 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-1.

Stepanek reached his first final since he won his second career singles title last July in Los Angeles.
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