Roddick Advances to Fifth Consecutive Houston Final

Top-seeded Andy Roddick overcame two service breaks in the first set to defeat Jurgen Melzer 6-4, 6-2 to reach his fifth consecutive final at the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships in Houston.

Roddick's five straight finals in Houston is the longest on the ATP tour since Yevgeny Kafelnikov reached the Moscow final six straight times between 1996-2001.

"It's a ritual I enjoy and hope to continue," said Roddick, who also faced a tough test from Melzer last year in Houston. "Last year here, he made me look stupid all night long with that drop shot and I didn't want to look as stupid today."

Roddick won Houston in 2001-02, and has finished runner-up the last two years, but looked at the end of his streak as Melzer charged out in the opening set.

"It was close, although it was 3-0 and I broke him again and it was 4-2," Melzer said. "I couldn't quite hold serve after that."

In the final Roddick will face No. 6 seed Sebastien Grosjean, who defeated qualifier Nicolas Lapentti 6-1, 7-6(5) in his semifinal.

Grosjean trails Roddick 1-4 in their head-to-head meetings and is 3-8 in career finals, last winning in 2002 at St. Petersburg.

The doubles final will be Garcia/Horna (d. Cibulec/Fyrstenberg in the semis) vs. (1) Knowles/Nestor (d. Fisher/Haggard).