Andy Roddick's bid for a second straight title in Asia came to an end today, losing a third-set tiebreak to Tomas Berdych in the semi-finals of the Japan Open.
Berdych rallied from a set down for a thrilling 6-7 (2-7) 7-5 7-6 (7-3) win over the second-seeded American, who was coming off a win at the China Open on Sunday.
The ninth-seeded Berdych will face fifth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in Sunday's final.
Del Potro defeated No.4 seed Richard Gasquet 6-3 4-6 7-5 in the other semi-final.
Roddick broke Berdych to take a 2-0 lead in the final set and looked set for another trip to the final after building up a 5-2 lead.
But the Czech, who reached the semi-finals of last year's Japan Open, staged a dramatic comeback.
"Being down 5-2 doesn't look good," said Berdych.
"But it was only one break. I just tried to stay on my serve and look for a break and finally it came and I could finish the set."
Roddick also had a chance to win in the second set. With the score tied 5-5, Roddick double faulted to give Berdick a 6-5 lead. He slammed his racquet on the court and was given a warning.
"It's disappointing," said Roddick. "I don't know how to rate it.
"You feel like you have a match in your grasp and then let it go."
Roddick, who had 25 aces, said Berdych made the most of his chances.
"He hit some good shots," said Roddick. "I don't think I missed any easy shots.
"He played a good game and this surface suits his game because he hits the ball hard and flat."
Berdych, 23, is chasing his first singles title this year and fifth of his career.
Earlier, Del Potro extended his extraordinary run of form by beating Gasquet in three sets.
The 20-year-old Del Potro has now won 29 of his past 30 matches, with the only loss being to eventual finalist Andy Murray in the US Open quarter-finals.
During that streak, he has won titles at Stuttgart, Kitzbuhel, Los Angeles and Washington, having not won any singles titles before.
In the women's event, top-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark coasted to a 6-4 6-3 win over Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia to reach the final.
She will take on fifth seeded Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, who defeated Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4 6-4 in the other semi-final.
Wozniacki is chasing her third singles title in as many months, having claimed events in Stockholm and New Haven.
Kanepi is into just her second career final, having been a runner up in Belgium in 2006.
