SAN JOSE, California (AFP) - Top-seeded American Andy Roddick punched his ticket to the final of the 436,000-dollar ATP tennis tournament here Saturday with a straight-set win over Guillermo Garcia-Lopez.

Roddick defeated the unseeded Spaniard 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 to line up a clash with fourth-seeded Czech Radek Stepanek.

Roddick was in the semi-finals here for the fifth straight year, and the sixth time overall.

The 25-year-old American won back-to-back titles here in 2004-05, but was ousted in the semi-finals by eventual champion Andy Murray each of the last two years.

Scotland's Murray chose not to defend his title here this year, preferring instead to stay in Europe.

Roddick, who is seeking his 24th career title, fired 16 aces to Garcia-Lopez's four.

He won 84 percent of his first-serve points while saving the lone break point he faced.

It was the second victory in as many matches between the two for Roddick, who also beat Garcia-Lopez in 2006.

Stepanek, who is seeking his third career title, rallied to beat US wild card Robby Ginepri 6-7 (5/7), 6-4, 6-1.

Stepanek reached his first final since he won his second career singles title last July in Los Angeles.

He ended the run of Ginepri, who upset second-seeded James Blake in the quarter-finals, denying Ginepri bid to reach a championship match for the first time since winning at Indianapolis in 2005.