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 Sixth seed Andy Roddick (pictured right) went the distance in his 6-3, 4-6, 7-6(4) win against 14th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo on Friday in Rome to secure his spot in the semifinals at the Internazionali BNL d'Italia.
Roddick took the 2-0 lead in the decisive set, but double faulted on Robredo's break point opportunity in the sixth game to return the match on serve. But Robredo, who had upset World No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko in a third set tie-break on Thursday, failed to repeat his feat for the second straight day as the American pulled through to clinch the victory in two hours and 13 minutes.
In doing so, Roddick improved to a 13-6 season record in tie-breaks, and took his career record against Robredo to a perfect 8-0.
The 25-year-old Roddick advances to his second straight ATP Masters Series semifinal, having reached the final four in Miami in his last main draw appearance (l. to Davydenko). He will be looking to reach his eighth career ATP Masters Series final, and his first since winning his fourth ATP Masters Series shield two years ago in Cincinnati. His previous best finish in Rome was the semifinals in his event debut in 2002 (l. to Haas)
Roddick will also attempt to reach his third final this season. He won the San Jose title in February (d. Stepanek), and then clinched the Dubai title in a run that included wins over World No. 2 Rafael Nadal in the quarterfinals and No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.
Robredo has enjoyed recent success on clay, following a slow 4-6 start through the first three months of the season. Including Rome, he has reached the quarterfinals (or better) in three of his last four main draw appearances. His last four losses have now come against Top 10 players.
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Roddick will next face Swiss No. 2 Stanislas Wawrinka, who will break into the Top 20 of the South African Airways for the first time in his career on Monday after reaching the Rome semifinals.
 The unseeded 22-year-old improved to 8-17 lifetime against Top 10 opponents after defeating World No. 8 James Blake of the United States 6-7(5), 7-6(5), 6-1 on Stadio Pietrangeli Friday. The World No. 24 had also beaten Blake in their only previous meeting at 2005 Roland Garros.
Blake stormed into a 3-1 lead in the first set, but Swiss Wawrinka recovered and ensured a tense tie-break. Doha finalist Wawrinka moved into a 2-0 lead and served for the second set at 5-3, before it was Blake’s turn to stage a comeback.
Any resistance from Blake ended when Wawrinka broke the American’s serve in the first game of the deciding set. Two more service breaks helped Wawrinka record his 21st victory of the year in two hours and 32 minutes.
The 28-year-old Blake also reached the 2002 Rome semifinals (l. to Novak). The Tampa resident has finished runner-up at Delray Beach (l. to Nishikori) and Houston (l. to Granollers) this season and has a 25-9 match record.
Wawrinka is the third different Swiss player to reach the Rome semifinals, after Heinz Gunthart (SF in 1983) and Federer (runner-up in 2003 and ’06).
The St. Barthelemy has ensured that Switzerland will have two players in the Top 20 on Monday. The last time two Swiss were ranked in the Top 20 was on March 4, 1991 with No. 18 Jakob Hlasek and No. 20 Marc Rosset.
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Internazionali BNL d'Italia Tournament Profile | International TV Schedule
Thursday: Americans Blake, Roddick Reach Quarterfinals
Thursday: Djokovic Sets Up QF with Almagro; Federer Advances
Wednesday: Ferrero Upsets Clay King Nadal; Blake Wins
Wednesday: Djokovic Races into 3rd RD; Nalbandian, Ferrer Fall
Tuesday: Federer Passes Test for Third Round Berth
Tuesday: Roddick Makes Confident Start at Foro Italico
Monday: Canas Sets Up Federer Clash; Wawrinka Ousts Safin
Monday: Gasquet Falls to World No. 111 Qualifier in Opener
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