JOIN USIsner triumphs over Roddick
The towering Isner came from 1-3 down in the second set to beat top-seeded Roddick in just over 90 minutes, and will take on French qualifier Julien Benneteau in Saturday’s final.
Benneteau fought back in a wildly fluctuating encounter to beat 10th-seeded Dutchman Robin Haase 3-6, 7-6, 7-6, saving two match points in the final-set tiebreak which he clinched 8-6.
Isner, who grew up in nearby Greensboro, was delighted to beat Roddick in front of his hometown fans and reach his third ATP World Tour final this year.
“It’s such an important event for me,” the six-foot nine-inch American told reporters after unleashing eight aces and winning 61 percent of points on his second serve. “I definitely wanted to do well here.
“I want to go up to New York (for the US Open) with some momentum and that’s what I have right now.”
Li stunned
French Open champion Li Na of China was upset 6-2, 5-7, 7-6 by Czech qualifier Petra Cetkovska in the semi-finals of the New Haven Open in New York on Friday.
Cetkovska, ranked a career-high 40th in the world, will face world number one Caroline Wozniacki in Saturday’s final, the Dane having beaten Italy’s Francesca Schiavone 7-6, 6-3 in the last four.
Cetkovska clinched the decisive tiebreak 11-9 at the end of a battle with Li lasting two hours and 41 minutes.
The 26-year-old Czech has yet to win a WTA event but is on an upward curve, reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon this year after winning three ITF titles last season.