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Czech Radek Stepanek beat top seed and defending champion Andy Roddick 3-6 7-6 6-4 to reach the San Jose Open final.

The world number 21, who lost to Roddick in last year's final, will meet another American, Mardy Fish, in Sunday's title match.

Fish saw off compatriot and doubles partner James Blake 6-3 6-2 in his semi-final.

Third seed Blake was hampered by an ankle injury and the pair later withdrew from their doubles semi.

"I didn't know he was that injured until the first game he served," Fish said. "I could get a feel that he had trouble moving to the backhand, so I tried to go down the T a lot on the deuce court.

"You try to forget you are playing against your best friend," the 27-year-old added.

Stepanek, who won in Brisbane last month, saved 10 of the 11 break points he faced against Roddick on his way to notching up his first career victory in five meetings over the three-times San Jose champion.

"I lost so many matches against him and finally today, in such a magical place as San Jose, I finally did it," the 30-year-old Stepanek said.

"I'm very happy with the match today because I think we had a great battle. Just a few points decided it and I was able to win all of them."

Reuters