Andy Roddick ended a streak of 11 consecutive losses to Roger Federer on Thursday at the Sony Ericsson Open. Dominating with his serve, Roddick took advantage of Federer's suddenly shaky play in the final set to win 7-6 (4), 4-6, 6-3 in the quarterfinals. “I came in knowing that nobody has beaten me 12 times in a row,” Roddick told the delighted capacity crowd afterward. “So I had that on my side.” In the women's semifinals, Serena Williams overcame a slow start to outlast Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6, 7-5, 6-3. Serena needs one more win for her fifth Key Biscayne title and second in a row. “I haven't won anything five times, except I win all the time in Uno,” Serena said, referring to a popular card game. “I don't think that counts.” Her opponent in the final Saturday will be No. 4-seeded Jelena Jankovic, who beat No. 19 Vera Zvonareva 6-1, 6-4. Roddick impoved to 2-15 against Federer, who came into the tournament hoping to quell talk that his game is in decline. Slowed by mononucleosis early in the year, the top-ranked Federer has yet to reach a final in 2008, making this his worst start since 2000. “I am just sort of disappointed not to see my name playing in the finals,” Federer said. “I think I have the game to obviously be there.” Roddick's opponent in the semifinals Friday night will be No. 4 Nikolay Davydenko, who beat unseeded Janko Tipsarevic 6-2, 6-1. Roddick was at his best against the top-ranked Federer, especially down the stretch. Roddick fell behind love-30 serving at 3-3 in the final set, then won the next 11 points, five of them thanks to unforced errors by Federer. Twice during the stretch Federer shanked shots. “I figure I was due,” Roddick said. “He hadn't missed a ball in a crucial moment for about six years against me. I figured the law of statistics had to come my way eventually.” Federer was broken for the only time at love to fall behind 5-3, losing the only break point he faced in the match. Roddick closed out the victory with a 225-kph service winner. That helped him end a streak of 10 consecutive sets lost against Federer. “I always said it's tough to play against Andy – you know, that serve,” Federer said. “He's always going to have a chance. That's why I'm quite amazed about my record against him.” Federer, off to his worst start since 2000, still hasn't reached a final this year. Serena toiled for nearly three hours to reach match point against Kuznetsova, then hit two more shots and raised a fist, tired but triumphant. On a humid, 29-degree Celsius (85 Fahrenheit) afternoon, Serena' newfound fitness may have made the difference. She arrived for this year's tournament a slimmer Serena, joking after one win that this is the best she has looked since 1982. She was then an infant. Her recent rigorous training regimen paid off in a semifinal that became a test of stamina. “I don't feel tired or sore or anything,” Serena said 90 minutes after the match. “I feel like I'm really fit. I've been working really hard.” In the final set, Serena broke for a 5-3 lead when she skipped a shot off the net cord, leaving Kuznetsova with an awkward backhand she dumped into the net. Serena slammed her 12th ace to reach match point, and Kuznetsova then sailed a lob long. “Serena was a bit fresher,” Kuznetsova said. “In the end she was moving well and serving incredibly hard.” __
