Roddick Beats Karlovic To Reach Final In Washington

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Andy Roddick outlasted Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) to reach the final of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Saturday.<br/><br/>Roddick had 12 aces, but saved his best shot to set up

Saturday, August 4th 2007, 4:30 pm

By: News On 6

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Andy Roddick outlasted Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7), 7-6 (5) to reach the final of the Legg Mason Tennis Classic on Saturday.

Roddick had 12 aces, but saved his best shot to set up a match point. With Karlovic serving at 5-all in the second-set tiebreaker, Roddick sprinted across the court to reach a backhand volley, and curled his backhand winner up the line.

"He normally goes to the open court on his volley, so as soon as I hit the return I just took off," Roddick said. "I didn't actually see it land, but the crowd let me know it was in."

Roddick closed out the match on the next point when Karlovic hit a backhand into the net. Roddick is 27-7 in tiebreakers this year.

He is 23-3 for his career at this tournament, including eight straight wins going to his run to the title in 2005. He missed last year's tournament because of an injury.

Roddick, who also won here in 2001, will play either Frenchman Gael Monfils or unseeded American John Isner in Sunday's final.

Karlovic, who had 19 aces, had his chances to win the first set. He forced Roddick to come up with a forehand volley winner to save a set point serving at 4-5. Karlovic also had a 4-1 lead in the first set tiebreaker and another set point with Roddick serving at
6-7, but his backhand return went long. Roddick also won the next two points to end the first set.

Aside from the tiebreakers, neither player had much success against the other's serve. Roddick drew an ovation in the first set when he held for 4-all with a 151 mph ace.