Tennis: Murray downs Roddick to reach final

SAN JOSE - Defending champion Andy Murray beat top seed Andy Roddick 7-6 6-4 today to reach the final of the San Jose Open tennis tournament.

In a repeat of last year's semifinal, third seed Murray served 14 aces on the way to clinching victory and now plays Ivo Karlovic after the big-serving Croat beat German Benjamin Becker 7-6 7-5 in the other semi.

Briton Murray broke Roddick in the eighth game of the first set but the American broke back immediately to force a tiebreak.

Roddick had three set points but the 19-year-old Scot saved them all and then clinched the set with a backhand pass.

Murray then broke in the fifth game of the second set and after saving a break point at 4-3, held on to reach his fifth ATP Tour final.

Karlovic, the world No 103, fired down 27 aces against Becker to reach his second career ATP Tour final.

- REUTERS