Roddick run is halted by Berdych

Roddick could not follow up his China title with victory in Japan

Andy Roddick's bid for a second straight title in Asia came to an end as he lost in three sets to Tomas Berdych in the Japan Open semi-finals.

Roddick, who won the China Open last week, took the first set but his Czech opponent hit back to win 6-7 (3-7) 7-5 7-6 (7-3).

"It's disappointing. You feel like you have a match in your grasp and then let it go," said Roddick.

Ninth seed Berdych will face Juan Martin del Potro in Sunday's final.

Del Potro defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet 6-3 4-6 7-5, extending his run to 29 wins in 30 matches with the only defeat coming against Andy Murray in the US Open quarter-finals.

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"I told myself to keep fighting until the end and I would get a chance to break him, which happened in the last game," said Del Potro.

"I am very tired. We played a long match with long points but I am very happy to have beaten such a good player and to be in another final. I will have time to rest and recover before the final."

In the women's event, top seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark coasted to a 6-4 6-3 win over Jarmila Gajdosova of Slovakia to reach the final.

She will take on fifth seed Kaia Kanepi of Estonia, who defeated Canada's Aleksandra Wozniak 6-4 6-4 in the other semi-final.