Roddick advances as Del Potro bundled out of San Jose

Top-seeded Andy Roddick cruised into the semi-finals of the ATP hardcourt tournament here yesterday as second-seeded Juan Martin del Potro was bundled out by Mardy Fish.

Roddick, the defending champion and a three-time winner here, overcame German veteran Tommy Haas 7-5, 6-4 in 1hr 37min.

The American pounded eight aces and won 79 per cent of his first-serve points, and didn't face a break point in the match.

Roddick ended a run of three defeats to Haas as he advanced to a semi-final clash with fourth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek, who rallied to beat American qualifier Todd Widom 5-7, 6-0, 6-0.

Widom, ranked 270th, had downed eighth-seeded Robby Ginepri in the first round and Taylor Dent in the second.

But after he claimed the first set against Stepanek the Czech responded with a vengeance.

Stepanek delivered nine aces and broke Widom six times to close out the match in 1hr 28min.

Stepanek prevented the semi-finals from being an all-American affair.

Earlier, fifth-seeded Fish upset Argentina's del Potro 6-3, 6-4.

Fish hammered 19 aces and managed two breaks in a convincing victory in 1hr 28min.

Del Potro mustered only six aces and wasted four chances to break Fish.

Fish, a finalist at Indian Wells last year, is seeking to reach his second San Jose final. He lost to Roddick in the 2004 championship match here.

Fish next faces third-seeded James Blake, who was also impressive in booking his place in the final four.

Blake outlasted sixth-seeded compatriot Sam Querrey, in a marathon first-set tiebreaker and went on to a 7-6 (11/9), 6-3 victory.

Blake overcame 16 aces by Querrey to advance.