Top seed Andy Roddick advanced to the U.S. Men's Clay Court Championships final for a fifth consecutive year with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Austria's Jurgen Melzer in Houston on Saturday.
Seeking a third title at the event, the American will play Sebastien Grosjean in Sunday's final after the French sixth seed battled past qualifier Nicolas Lapentti of Ecuador 6-1, 7-6 in a night match.
After winning the event in 2001 and 2002, Roddick suffered subsequent final defeats to Andre Agassi and Tommy Haas but will be confident of beating a player he holds a 4-1 record against.
"It's a ritual I enjoy and hope to continue," Roddick said of reaching the final.
The American struggled early in the match and trailed 3-0 and 4-2 in the first set before taking control.
After winning three games in a row, Roddick hit a blistering ace to reach set point in the 10th game, then placed a drop shot that Melzer could not get over the net.
The second set was much easier for Roddick and once he was able to read Melzer's key weapon, his drop shot, the world number four cruised to victory.
"It (the drop shot) was definitely something I was looking for," Roddick said.
"It's a shot you don't see that much. He got me on the first one and then I was able to get on them after that and on a couple of big points I was looking for it."
Grosjean surprised second seed Agassi on Friday to reach the semi-finals and continued his good form with a strong first set against Lapentti.
The Ecuadorean battled back in the second and even held a set point in the 10th game.
In the tiebreaker, Lapentti surged 4-2 ahead before Grosjean started his charge with a backhand passing winner.
The Frenchman edged ahead with another passing shot at 5-4 and secured his place in the final when Lapentti double-faulted on the first match point.
Grosjean's victory put him in his first final since Queens Club last June, where he lost to Roddick.
