Roddick reaches final in Eastbourne
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Andy Roddick won a pair of matches on Friday to reach his first final of 2012.
The sixth-seeded former world No. 1 American star will face third-seeded and defending champion Andreas Seppi in Saturday's championship match at the Aegon International, a final grass-court Wimbledon tuneup event.
The three-time Wimbledon runner-up Roddick opened his day Friday with a 6-3, 3-6, 7-5 quarterfinal victory over Italian Fabio Fognini and capped it with a 6-3, 3-1 semifinal decision against Belgian Steve Darcis, who retired with a back injury while playing in his second match of the day. It marked the 600th ATP match victory for the former U.S. Open champion Roddick.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Darcis posted a 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) quarterfinal victory against Aussie qualifier Marinko Matosevic earlier in the day.
All four quarterfinals were postponed because of rain here on Thursday and staged Friday at Devonshire Park.
Meanwhile, Seppi handled young American Ryan Harrison 7-5, 6-1 in their semifinal affair. Earlier Friday, Seppi bested seventh-seeded German Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-5, 2-1, retired, and the 20-year-old Harrison beat Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 in the round of eight. Kohlschreiber quit due to an ankle injury.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The Italian Seppi upset Serb Janko Tipsarevic in last year's Eastbourne finale.
The 29-year-old Roddick will now appear in his 51st career final, seeking a 31st title, while the 28-year-old Seppi is 2-1 in his career finals, including a victory in Belgrade this year and the win here in Eastbourne last year.
Roddick is 1-0 lifetime against Seppi, with the win coming in the third round at the 2008 U.S. Open.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Saturday's winner will claim $92,000.