Cincinnati, Aug 16: Andy Roddick continued his charge towards back-to-back masters series titles by sweeping aside Argentine Mariano Zabaleta 6-1 6-2 to reach the Cincinnati semi-finals. The American's task for the weekend was also made easier when sixth-seed and in-form Guillermo Coria fell 6-2 7-5 to the unseeded Max Mirnyi of Belarus.
Roddick captured his first masters series crown in Montreal last week, and his latest command performance on a rain-interrupted day on Friday represented his 28th win in 30 matches since losing in the first round of the French Open in May.
The 20-year-old meets Mirnyi in the semi-finals on Saturday after the 'Beast of Belarus' pummelled Coria into submission. The Argentine is one of the best defensive players in the game but Mirnyi set his stall out at the net and Coria, who had won 18 of his last 19 matches, was at a loss to combat it. Mirnyi could move into the world's top 20 for the first time in his career when the new rankings are announced next week. Bureau Report