Nadal defeats Roddick to reach final

INDIAN WELLS, California, Mar 18 (Reuters) Second seed Rafael Nadal beat Andy Roddick 6-4 6-3 to power through to the Pacific Life Open final.

The 20-year-old Spaniard will play Briton Andy Murray or Novak Djokovic of Serbia in his first final since losing to world number one Roger Federer at Wimbledon 2006.

Nadal was near perfect against American Roddick, ripping 33 winners and committing only 12 unforced errors.

''I played a very complete match,'' Nadal told reporters yesterday. ''It's the best match of my season.

''I was saying before the tournament I was in my best moment of the season and the best moment from the last six months. He's one of the best players in the world so that's a very good win for me.'' Roddick made little headway despite cracking 16 aces.

''He's tough,'' said the third seed. ''It's no secret he moves well and when he's playing aggressively and clicking...you know it's why he's become the player he's become.

''He picked a couple of balls off his shoes running in for the forehand and crushed them up the line. When he hits passes like that it makes it real difficult.'' Nadal's form nosedived after last year's Wimbledon final, reaching only two semis before this week's event.

''When I have watched him in the last six months, he has been playing a little bit more defensive,'' Roddick said.

''Today he came out and played super-aggressive, got great depth.

I never felt comfortable.'' Nadal was happy with his display against Roddick.

''I've been trying to find this performance every week,'' he said.

REUTERS PDS PM0626