Top seed Andy Roddick moved a step closer to a successful defence of his title when he beat Germany's Tommy Haas 7-6 6-3 on Saturday to reach the final of the $380,000 San Jose Open. The American now meets the unseeded Cyril Saulnier of France, who went through to his first ATP final after upsetting seventh-seeded Austrian Jurgen Melzer 6-7, 6-3, 6-3. World number three Roddick has struggled all week with his consistency but looked solid against third seed Haas.
"I feel good to have a chance to play for the title," Roddick told reporters. "It's never a bad thing."
Roddick, who nearly blew a 6-0 lead in a tiebreak against Swede Thomas Enqvist in the quarter-finals, hit a stream of winners to take the last four points of the first set tiebreak against Haas.
Haas broke Roddick to open the second set but was broken straight back when he missed a forehand.
Taking chances on the German's second serve, Roddick then broke Haas again to lead 4-2.
BREAK POINTS: In the final game, the American saved two break points with a forehand winner and an ace before clinching victory with a service winner.
"I was feeling horrible earlier in the week," Roddick said. "I thought tonight was another step in the right direction.
Haas was bothered by a bad back that has plagued him all week and was unable to serve with his normal force. But he would not offer that as a reason for his defeat.
Earlier, Saulnier kept his cool while Melzer frequently blew his top over line calls.
The Austrian also twisted his left ankle in the second game of the second set.
Gaudio beats Martin
BUENOS AIRES: French Open champion Gaston Gaudio beat Alberto Martin in straight sets on Saturday to set up an all-Argentine final against wildcard Mariano Puerta in the Buenos Aires Open.
Puerta, whose last title was in Bogota five years ago, followed up Friday's quarter-final defeat of top seed Carlos Moya by beating Jose Acasuso, another Argentine, 6-4, 7-6.
Number two seed Gaudio, who won the Vina del Mar Open in Chile last week, needed one hour and 34 minutes to overcome the unseeded Spaniard, who beat third seed Guillermo Canas in the second round, in a nervous match strewna with unforced errors.
The tone was set when both players lost their opening service games before Gaudio slowly began to find his rhythm as he went on to win 6-3 6-4. But he will need to improve for the final against Puerta, an opponent who looked full of confidence on Saturday.
MARSEILLE OPEN:
MARSEILLE: Swede Joachim Johansson will meet Croatia's Ivan Ljubicic in the tournament final after beating Spaniard Feliciano Lopez 6-7, 7-6, 6-4 on Saturday. Ljubicic had to save 18 break points to tame compatriot Mario Ancic 7-5, 2-6, 6-4 and reach his second ATP Tour final this year.
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