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Fish comes from behind to defeat Roddick

Mardy Fish beat Andy Murray in the quarter-finals © Getty Images

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Mardy Fish built on his quarter-final victory over Andy Murray by coming from behind to defeat Andy Roddick for a place in the Cincinnati Masters final.

Fish is enjoying some of the best form of his career, having recently won titles in Newport and Atlanta, and he stands to improve on his world No. 36 ranking after scoring a 4-6 7-6(3) 6-1 victory over compatriot Roddick. In a match that featured a lengthy rain delay, Fish recovered well from an early loss of rhythm to triumph in three sets.

Having grown up together as close friends, it was little surprise that the opening exchanges were extremely tight as both players utilized their big serves to stay on terms. Registering seven aces apiece before the rain hit, the first nine games all went with serve. Fish marginally gained the better of the tussle, creating break chances in two of Roddick's first five service games. At 2-2 he had his opponent at his mercy at 15-40, but Roddick found an ace at a vital time to serve his way out of danger.

The rain delay played right into the hands of Roddick though, who returned to the court in the envious position of holding a 4-5 lead with Fish to serve. Inevitably, the first break of the match instantly arrived, simultaneously handing the world No. 13 the set.

Now in the ascendency, Roddick quickly capitalised by breaking Fish again, and he looked on course for a swift progression into the final, only to allow his opponent back through the door when serving for the match at 5-3. Fish forced the tiebreaker, and then recovered from 1-3 down to rattle off six consecutive points in order to level the contest.

Roddick, who beat Novak Djokovic to reach the last four, recently revealed he has been suffering from mononucleosis, leading to episodes of lethargy in the American. And he certainly appeared to be far from his best as Fish raced into a 5-0 lead in the decider, wrapping things up in two hours and 16 minutes.

Roger Federer awaits in the final, after the 16-time Grand Slam champion easily negotiated his way past semi-final opponent Marcos Baghdatis.

Federer was imperious on his own serve and Baghdatis, who knocked out Rafael Nadal in the previous round, failed to earn himself a single break.

The unseeded Cypriot never looked like threatening Federer's surge into the final, and the Swiss wrapped up an emphatic 6-4 6-3 victory in a little over an hour to book his place in the showpiece and keep his world No. 2 status heading into the US Open.

"I didn't get broken today, so that was a first in this Northern American tour for me," he said. "I thought I played a good match. I was able to mix up my serve well and always kept him off balance. So it kind of worked for me."

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