The ninth-seeded Berdych will face fifth-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro of Argentina in Sunday’s final. Del Potro defeated No. 4 Richard Gasquet 6-3, 4-6, 7-5 in the other semifinal.
Roddick, coming off a win at the China Open last Sunday, broke Berdych to take a 2-0 lead in the final set and looked set for another trip to the finals after building a 5-2 lead.
“It’s disappointing,” Roddick said. “I don’t know how to rate it. You feel like you have a match in your grasp and then let it go.”
After holding serve in the eighth game, Berdych broke Roddick with a crosscourt forehand to close the gap to 5-4 before sending the final set into a tiebreaker, which he won with an ace.
“Being down 5-2 doesn’t look good,” Berdych said. “But it was only one break. I just tried to stay on my serve and look for a break and finally it came and I could finish the set.”
Roddick also had a chance to win in the second set. With the score tied 5-5, Roddick double- faulted to give Berdych a 6-5 lead. He slammed his racket on the court and was given a warning.
Roddick, who had 25 aces, said Berdych made the most of his chances.
“He hit some good shots,” Roddick said. “I don’t think I missed any easy shots. He played a good game and this surface suits his game because he hits the ball hard and flat.”
Berdych, 23, is chasing his first singles title this year and fifth of his career.
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Roddick blows lead, U.S. trails Spain 0-2
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