Andy Roddick to face James Blake in semis at Queen’s Club; Murray plays Ferrero

Roddick to face Blake in semis at Queen’s Club

LONDON — Andy Roddick stayed on track for his fifth title at Queen’s Club by defeating Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (4), 7-6 (5) Friday, advancing to the semifinals of the Aegon Championships.

In Saturday’s semifinals, Roddick will face James Blake, who downed Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (5), 6-3.

Top-seeded Andy Murray lost just five points on his serve in beating American Mardy Fish 7-5, 6-3.

The second-seeded Roddick had 24 aces and Karlovic 26 in a match that featured few rallies and only two break points. Those came with Roddick leading 6-5 in the second set, but the Croat volleyed a winner on the first and hit a drop shot on the second.

“You’re not going to get many chances, especially if he’s making first serves,” Roddick said. “Luckily, in the tiebreakers, I got a couple of looks at some second serves.”

Juan Carlos Ferrero reached his first career grass-court semifinal when he defeated Steve Darcis 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

Ferrero will play Murray, who never faced a break point against Fish. He broke for a 6-5 lead in the first set after Fish netted a forehand volley.

Murray broke again to go up 4-3 in the second after Fish netted a backhand, and he sealed the match with a crosscourt winner.

Ferrero, who received a wild card to Wimbledon, had failed to advance beyond the quarterfinals on grass on three previous occasions.