Becker stuns Safin, Roddick through to semis

SAN JOSE, Feb 17 (Reuters) Top seed Andy Roddick came through a tougher-than-expected test against fellow American Vince Spadea at the San Jose Open on Friday, winning 6-3 6-7 6-1 to reach the semi-finals for the fifth time in six years.

Eighth seed Spadea hit back from a break down in the second set to force a decider but Roddick, who hit 19 aces, recovered to set up a match with defending champion Andy Murray, the Scottish third seed, or South Korean Lee Hyung-taik.

In the second semi-final, German Benjamin Becker, who upset Marat Safin 6-4 6-3, will take on unseeded Croat Ivo Karlovic, who overpowered American Mardy Fish 7-6 6-4.

Roddick, despite not being at his best, looked on course for a comfortable win when he led by a set and 4-3 with a break before Spadea hit back.

The 32-year-old, the oldest player in the draw, broke back and then snatched the tiebreak 7-5 to force the match into a third set.

But a loss of concentration at the start of the set allowed Roddick to regain the upper hand and as Spadea tired, the top seed eased to victory in exactly two hours.

Becker took advantage of a listless performance from Russian former world number one Safin, breaking once in each set to reach his third career ATP Tour semi-final.

''I think I was a little too slow today,'' Safin said.

''Maybe I had a bit of a problem with the timing because I played all my matches in the evening. Maybe it was a bit too early for me. I couldn't get into the match quickly enough.'' Safin, the world number 24, won a five-set battle with Becker at the Australian Open last month, but made a stack of unforced errors in their latest meeting and could not even force a break point.

''I think I played pretty well and I think he made a few more mistakes than he usually does,'' Becker said.

''I just tried to him play a lot, not going for too much, especially on his serve and it worked out.'' FISH BATTERED Karlovic followed up his victory over American second seed James Blake with a stunning exhibition of serving against Fish, the world number 25.

The unseeded Croat blasted 17 aces and dropped only 10 points on serve to leave Fish, a quarter-finalist at the Australian Open last month, chasing shadows.

''After being injured for almost six months last year, I didn't expect to do this well, so I am very happy,'' Karlovic said.

''I think each match I am playing better and serving better.'' Karlovic, who stands six feet 10 inches, won the first-set tiebreak 7-2 and broke Fish in the third game of the second set before going on to reach his third ATP Tour semi-final.

''It's basically a crap-shoot when you play him,'' Fish said.

''It doesn't really feel like tennis.

''It's not often you play a match where you are excited to reach 40-30. He serves so well and you just don't know where it's going.'' REUTERS SAM DS1200