Federer, Djokovic set semis showdown

MIAMI – World number two Roger Federer overcame American Andy Roddick in three sets Wednesday to set up a semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic at the ATP Masters 1000 hardcourt tournament here.

The second-seeded Swiss, still in search of his first title of 2009, defeated Roddick, 6-3, 4-6, 6-4, avenging a quarterfinal loss to the American here last year.

In the semifinals 13-time Grand Slam champion Federer will face third-seeded Serbian Djokovic, who beat 10th-seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, 6-3, 6-4.

Federer, who won back-to-back titles here in 2005 and 2006, closed out the match with a service break, earning a match point with a backhand winner that clipped the net cord and found the corner.

Another backhand found Roddick helpless at the net.

Federer said he enjoyed playing the hometown favorite, but he wouldn’t have minded putting it away sooner.

“I thought that I should have had it under control in the second set,” Federer said. “Kind of lost that and was under quite a bit of pressure in the third set. So I’m happy I got through it.”

Djokovic became the first men’s semifinalist by beating Tsonga, ending a four-match losing streak to the Frenchman.

Meanwhile, Venus and Serena Williams said they’ve seen little of each other for the past week because of their busy schedules. That will change on Thursday when they meet semifinals.

The 20th showdown between the sisters ensures a finalist from the family on Saturday.

She advanced first on Wednesday, overcoming a dismal start to beat unseeded Li Na of China, 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-2. Five hours later she was joined by No. 5-seeded Venus, who beat No. 26 Iveta Benesova of the Czech Republic, 6-1, 6-4.

The other semifinal will be between No. 8 Svetlana Kuznetsova and No. 11 Victoria Azarenka.       (AP)