<p>Isner beat Czech eighth seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-7 (10-12), 6-2 here Friday night.<br />The semi-finals in the American capital will feature a bill which also includes an all-South American clash between fourth seed Fernando Gonzalez and defending champion Juan Del Potro of Argentina.<br /><br />Del Potro got a free ride as Swedish opponent Robin Soderling withdrew before their match with a lingering right elbow injury.<br />Roddick is seeking redemption as he returns to tennis for the first time in five weeks after losing a third Wimbledon final to Roger Federer.<br />Fourth seed Fernando Gonzalez had to work for his hard-hitting win, firing 18 forehand winners to overwhelm German tenth seed Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-4.<br />The veteran Chilean, who took four weeks off after a poor Wimbledon to rest a knee plagued with the same patella tendon problem that afflicts Rafael Nadal, showed no signs of rust as he moved into a semi-final against his fellow South American Del Potro.<br />The Chilean leads the Argentine, winning all three of their previous matches, the last at the Australian Open in 2007.<br />"I barely hit a ball when I was at home," said Gonzalez, who said that the change of surface from clay to grass two months ago gave him more pain in his knee.<br />"I was also scared of the hot weather here," added the player who came out of the southern winter only to find unseasonably mild temperatures. "Tommy and I both played good tennis at the start, but I was able to get a break in the first set.<br />"In the second he gave me two break points and I took them."<br />But it was not all one-way traffic for the number 11 who stands 27-7 on the season. Serving for victory leading a set and 5-2, Gonzalez lost serve to give Haas some breathing space.<br />After the 31-year-old German held, Gonzalez finally put the victory away a game later on his second match point as he smashed home the win in just under 90 minutes.<br />Del Potro was glad to have a free afternoon after the pullout of Soderling, elongating his practice to an hour and planning to relax for the rest of the day.<br />"I found about the pullout during my warm-up so I just extended the session," said the world number six South American. "I need time anyway to rest for my next match.<br />"The courts are playing a lot faster this year and we players can all feel the difference."<br />French Open finalist Soderling said he has been feeling his elbow for several weeks. "I've just over-played," said the man who knocked Nadal out of that major on May 31 in the fourth round and lost the final to Roger Federer.<br />"I took a week off after Hamburg (July) but it is still bothering me, I hope to be ready for the US Open."<br /><br />-</p>
<p>Isner beat Czech eighth seed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-7 (10-12), 6-2 here Friday night.<br />The semi-finals in the American capital will feature a bill which also includes an all-South American clash between fourth seed Fernando Gonzalez and defending champion Juan Del Potro of Argentina.<br /><br />Del Potro got a free ride as Swedish opponent Robin Soderling withdrew before their match with a lingering right elbow injury.<br />Roddick is seeking redemption as he returns to tennis for the first time in five weeks after losing a third Wimbledon final to Roger Federer.<br />Fourth seed Fernando Gonzalez had to work for his hard-hitting win, firing 18 forehand winners to overwhelm German tenth seed Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-4.<br />The veteran Chilean, who took four weeks off after a poor Wimbledon to rest a knee plagued with the same patella tendon problem that afflicts Rafael Nadal, showed no signs of rust as he moved into a semi-final against his fellow South American Del Potro.<br />The Chilean leads the Argentine, winning all three of their previous matches, the last at the Australian Open in 2007.<br />"I barely hit a ball when I was at home," said Gonzalez, who said that the change of surface from clay to grass two months ago gave him more pain in his knee.<br />"I was also scared of the hot weather here," added the player who came out of the southern winter only to find unseasonably mild temperatures. "Tommy and I both played good tennis at the start, but I was able to get a break in the first set.<br />"In the second he gave me two break points and I took them."<br />But it was not all one-way traffic for the number 11 who stands 27-7 on the season. Serving for victory leading a set and 5-2, Gonzalez lost serve to give Haas some breathing space.<br />After the 31-year-old German held, Gonzalez finally put the victory away a game later on his second match point as he smashed home the win in just under 90 minutes.<br />Del Potro was glad to have a free afternoon after the pullout of Soderling, elongating his practice to an hour and planning to relax for the rest of the day.<br />"I found about the pullout during my warm-up so I just extended the session," said the world number six South American. "I need time anyway to rest for my next match.<br />"The courts are playing a lot faster this year and we players can all feel the difference."<br />French Open finalist Soderling said he has been feeling his elbow for several weeks. "I've just over-played," said the man who knocked Nadal out of that major on May 31 in the fourth round and lost the final to Roger Federer.<br />"I took a week off after Hamburg (July) but it is still bothering me, I hope to be ready for the US Open."<br /><br />-</p>
