7 January 2011 | Tennis Queensland

Andy Roddick has reached the semifinals of the Brisbane International after defeating Marcos Baghdatis in straight sets 6-2 6-3 at Pat Rafter Arena on day seven.

Roddick said post match, “I felt good about pretty much everything.”

“Everything was pretty solid; I don’t think I gave away too many points.”

With this win, Roddick has extended his head to head lead over the Cypriot to 3-1and will now meet the South African big server Kevin Anderson in his semifinal match-up.

On his upcoming match, the No.2 seed said, “It is going to be a different match… and the more I can get the ball in play against him, the more comfortable I will feel.” 

Anderson produced 12 aces in his last match where he defeated Columbian Santiago Giraldo 2-6 6-3 6-4. 

In other results Andrea Petkovic has taken down her second Australian, defeating Jarmila Groth 6-3 6-4.

After taking an initial 2-0 lead, Groth didn’t show the same form that helped her topple No.1 seed Samantha Stosur on Tuesday night.

Petkovic commented on her quarterfinal win, saying “She [Groth] started unbelievably… but I stayed calm because I knew my chances would come, so it was fine.

“I think I am in the right form especially here and I feel very comfortable.”

Groth was disappointed with her score against the world No.32.

“I thought I started very well, I had the break points…but I didn’t serve very well and to her credit she didn’t make many errors and she went for all her shots,” Groth said.

“Don’t get me wrong, to win two rounds is great but once you win you expect something more from yourself.

“She was making all the balls… and she played too good.”

Joining Petkovic in the women’s tournament semifinal line-up are Marion Bartoli, Petra Kvitova and Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.

The world No.21 Pavlyuchenkova, battled for two hours and 25 minutes to defeat Czech Lucie Safarova 6-2 7-6(4) 6-3.

Bartoli and Kvitova both posted straight set victories to secure their semifinal positions, after Bartoli beat Barbora Zahlavova Strycova 6-2, 6-1 and Kvitova defeated Dominika Cibulkova 6-0 6-4.

Australia’s hopes for an Aussie champion have been thwarted by number one seed, Robin Soderling. The young West Australian fought hard against the world number five, but he was outclassed in straight sets 6-3 6-2.

Day nine will see Soderling play Radek Stepanek (CZE) in the semi-finals. While the Swede holds a 4-2 lead over Stepanek in their head-to-head battles, this pairing will be a re-match of the 2009 Brisbane International quarterfinals where the Czech toppled Soderling and went on to win the tournament.