LOS ANGELES, Aug 9: Top seed Andy Roddick closed on his third title of the year by brushing aside Frenchman Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-1 to reach the semi-finals of the ATP event on Friday.

The American, on the comeback trail after shoulder and neck injuries, grew in confidence as the match wore on to set up a semi-final with unseeded German Denis Gremelmayr, who upset former world No 1 Marat Safin 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

American sixth seed Mardy Fish fired eight aces as he reached his second semi-final of the year with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Frenchman Florent Serra.

Fish next plays third seed Juan Martin Del Potro after the Argentine took his winning streak to 12 matches with a 7-6, 6-2 win over American qualifier Amer Delic.

Friday’s results (prefix number denotes seeding):

Quarter-finals: 1-Andy Roddick (US) bt Marc Gicquel (France) 6-3, 6-1; 3-Juan Martin Del Potro (Argentina) bt Amer Delic (US) 7-6 (8-6), 6-2; Denis Gremelmayr (Germany) bt 5-Marat Safin (Russia) 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; 6-Mardy Fish (US) bt Florent Serra (France) 6-4, 6-4.—Reuters