Impressive Roddick marches into Cincinnati final

CINCINNATI, Aug 20 (Reuters) Andy Roddick outgunned Chilean 13th seed Fernando Gonzalez 6-3 6-3 to reach the Cincinnati Masters Series event final.

The American ninth seed yesterday hammered down 12 aces to set up a clash with unseeded Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero, a repeat of the 2003 U.S. Open final, won by Roddick.

''I haven't felt like this on a tennis court in a long time,'' the former world number one said. ''This week has been so welcome.

''I feel good. The biggest thing is the way I have been returning. I have actually been able to break serve, which is a novelty for me.'' Roddick broke Gonzalez in the opening game of the match and one more break gave him the set.

Gonzalez, appearing in his third Masters Series semi-final of 2006, upped his game in the second set but double-faulted to hand Roddick the break in the eighth game and the American served out to love for victory.

REUTERS SK PM0632