Jankovic will play for women’s crown at Indian Wells

Associated Press

INDIAN WELLS, CALIF.

Jelena Jankovic defeated Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4 on Friday to reach the women’s final of the BNP Paribas Open.

The sixth-seeded Serb will try to win her first title in seven months on Sunday. Jankovic will face either No. 2 seed Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark or fifth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who met in an evening semifinal.

Andy Roddick advanced to the men’s semifinals with a 6-3, 7-5 win over 18th-seeded Tommy Robredo of Spain, who lost to the American for the 11th consecutive time.

Roddick will play No. 6 seed Robin Soderling in today’s semifinals. The Swede defeated No. 4 seed Andy Murray, 6-1, 7-6 (4).

Defending champion Rafael Nadal plays 20th-seeded Ivan Ljubicic of Croatia in the other semi.

Tied 3-all, Roddick won the final three games, earning the only break in the eighth game, to wrap up the first set. Both players were on serve in the second set until Roddick broke in the 11th game and then served out the win.

“I felt like he was trying to hit his first serve a little bit bigger and win some cheaper points,” Roddick said.

Roddick is in the semis for the fourth time in six years, but has yet to reach the final.

“It’s about the only place in the North American swing that I haven’t won before, so that would be nice,” he said.