Roddick holds nerve to overcome Grosjean

Andy Roddick overcame a brave fightback from Sebastien Grosjean on Wednesday to reach his third successive Wimbledon semi-final.

Roddick ground out a tense 3-6 6-2 6-1 3-6 6-3 victory after two hours 45 minutes on Centre Court to remain on course for a repeat of last year's final against Roger Federer.

The second seed will now face Sweden's Thomas Johansson in the last four on Friday while Federer takes on Lleyton Hewitt after both players won their respective quarter-finals in straight sets.

"I came in here losing a string of five setters in Grand Slams so to pull two out, especially against a player like Sebastien, really means a lot," said Roddick, who blew a two-set lead to crash out of the French Open in the second round recently.

Roddick had won the last six meetings between the pair, including all three of their clashes on grass without dropping a set, but squandered four break points early in the opening set and Grosjean took full advantage.

Two breaks of serve gave Roddick a quickfire second set and the American made full use of serving first in the third, racing into a 3-0 lead and securing another break to take it 6-1.

It looked as though Roddick was simply going to power his way into the last four, but Grosjean had already won two five-set matches in the championships and was prepared for a fight.

Two wild forehands from Roddick gifted his opponent a break of serve in the sixth game and the Centre Court crowd roared their approval in anticipation of a fifth set.

Roddick had the chance to break back immediately but could not grasp the opportunity and Grosjean served out to take the set 6-3 and force a decider.

Roddick had played one five-set match in the championships - an ill-tempered two-day second-round clash with Italy's Daniele Bracciali - and looked in determined mood at the start of the decider.

Again with the advantage of serving first, Roddick held serve in the opening game and promptly broke Grosjean in the next game, although he was slightly fortunate with a mishit return at 30-40.

Grosjean was desperately clinging on, saving another break point to avoid going 4-0 down, but he was fighting a losing battle.

More thunderous serving from Roddick - who amazingly did not serve a single double fault - saw him seal victory.