Soderling stops Murray

Robin Soderling denied Andy Murray a return trip to the Indian Wells Masters 1000 tennis final on Friday, ousting the Briton in straight sets to set up a semifinal showdown with Andy Roddick.

Sixth-seeded Soderling defeated Murray 6-1, 7-6(4), his booming serves and powerful groundstrokes giving the Briton no chance to work his way into the match.

Roddick, seeded seventh, continued his dominance of Tommy Robredo, advancing 6-3, 7-5 as he notched up his 11th victory over the Spaniard in as many meetings.

Soderling steamed through the first set against Australian Open runner-up Murray in 36 minutes, taking a 5-0 lead before an out-of-sorts Murray managed to hold serve.

Roddick in last four

Roddick, meanwhile, reached the semifinals here for the fourth time, having lost to eventual champion Nadal in the semifinals last year. Roddick beat Tommy Robredo 6-3, 7-5.

The American has made it to the quarterfinals or better in five events this season, opening the year by winning the title in Brisbane, making the quarterfinals at the Australian Open and reaching the final of the ATP event in San Jose, California, last month.

Jankovic enters final

Meanwhile, the women's finalists were decided as second-seeded Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark advanced with a 6-2, 6-3 victory over good friend Agnieszka Radwanska, the fifth seed from Poland.

Wozniacki, last year's US Open runner-up, will take on former World No. 1 Jelena Jankovic in Sunday's final.

Jankovic, the sixth seed, beat eighth-seeded Australian Samantha Stosur.

By reaching the final, Wozniacki is projected to reach a career-high No. 2 in the world next week, up two spots from her current No. 4.

The results: Men: Quarterfinals: Andy Roddick bt Tommy Robredo 6-3, 7-5; Robin Soderling bt Andy Murray 6-1, 7-6(4).

Women: Semifinals: Jelena Jankovic bt Samantha Stosur 6-2, 6-4; Caroline Wozniacki bt Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2, 6-3 . — Agencies