DUBAI (AFP) - Andy Roddick, who flew 6,000 miles and endured jet-lag and sleep loss to travel from Memphis to the Dubai Open, overcame Rafael Nadal, the man regarded as one of the fittest on the tour, to become a surprise semi-finalist on Thursday.
The sixth-seeded former US Open champion from the United States, turned in a spirited and impressive display to win 76-(5), 6-2 against the second-seeded French Open champion from Spain.
Roddick was fortunate that the conditions were relatively warm and fast, and not unsuitable for his big-hitting style.
But although Roddick hit one delivery at 150 mph - only five miles an hour slower than his world record - and finished the contest with two thundering aces, he was sometimes surprisingly effective in the rallies.
The match turned dramatically after Roddick had come back from 0-3 down in the tie-break and sneaked it 7-5 after Nadal uncharacteristically over-hit a forehand service return.
"It was difficult," said Roddick. "All of a sudden I am down in the tie-break and it is discouraging. But I hit one of my best shots at 4-4, I really let it fly and that helped.
"I am not as skilled as some of the guys and definitely not s fast but one thing I can do is hot a ball pretty good and I simplified it by letting it go tonight."
He was aided by another uncharacteristic error by Nadal at 30-40 in the third game of the second set, when the ground stroke king struck a forehand topspin into the net from a half court position.
Nadal never recovered from that service game loss and Roddick accelerated to a semi-final meeting with another in-form player, Novak Djokovic.
The third-seeded Australian Open champion from Serbia overwhelmed Igor Andreev, the world number 34 from Russia, 6-2, 6-1 and has now - following the demise of both Nadal and Roger Federer - become the favourite for the title.
Earlier Nikolay Davydenko, the Russian who has to play with the constant uncertainty of an investigation hanging around him, earned himself a great chance of reaching only his second ATP Tour final for 17 months.
The world number five from Moscow overcame Briton Andy Murray 7-5, 6-4, to become another unexpected semi-finalist.
Davydenko mixed consistency with aggression with superb attacks from the baseline against an opponent who had eliminated world number one Roger Federer in the first round.
His continued excellence is all the more surprising considering that he still has no knowledge of how much longer the ATP will want to check for evidence of whether or not he has had any involvement in corrupt betting practices.
"I think maybe it will finish this year," he said satirically, and when there was no response, added: "Or maybe when I have finished tennis."
Davydenko won because his aggression was more effective than Murray's preference for containment and defence and occasional counter-attack, although the outcome might have been different had the 20-year-old Scot taken his chances.
Murray had break points in both of Davydenko's first two service games, and two more in the sixth game of the second set.
"I was disappointed with that aspect of my game," said Murray.
"But at least I was hitting the ball better than yesterday," he added, referring to his wind-affected contest with Fernando Verdasco.
Davydenko now plays Feliciano Lopez, the Spaniard who played superbly to reach the final here four years ago but who had previously won only one match since October.
Lopez, who has sunk to 41 in the world rankings, upset his compatriot, the fourth-seeded David Ferrer, by 6-4, 6-3, clearly enjoying the fastish hard court conditions and warm weather.
It was a victory for a player who played a better all-court game over a player with tremendous speed, brilliant forehand and tenacious back-court rallying.
