Associated Press

Indian Wells, March 20:

Tim Henman frustrated Andy Roddick with his tenacious net play and defeated the big-serving American 6-7, 7-6, 6-3 in the Pacific Life Open quarter-finals.

Two-time women’s champion Lindsay Davenport reached her fifth final in her last seven appearances at Indian Wells, beating Nathlie Dechy of France 6-2, 7-6.

Former No 1player, Davenport will face top-ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne of Belgium in Sunday’s final. Henin took only 56 minutes to defeat Anastasia Myskina of Russia 6-1, 6-1.

Irakli Labadze of Georgia, 0-4 this year coming into the tournament, beat American James Blake 6-7, 6-4, 6-1 in the men’s other quarter-final.

American Andre Agassi plays top-ranked Roger Federer of Switzerland, and Labadaze faces Henman in semi-finals.

Roddick began it with a double fault, and got his only point when Henman’s forehand was wide on the second point.

Henman simply outplayed Roddick in the third set. As he did throughout the match, Henman sent Roddick scrambling with well-placed groundstrokes in the tiebreaker, then came forward to volley for winners.

Henman had only two aces to Roddick’s 11. Henman won 52 points in 77 chances at the net while the 21-year-old Roddick took 28 points in 46 approaches.

Davenport passed her first real test of this Indian Wells tournament, trailing Dechy 6-5 and 0-40 in the second before beginning her comeback.

Davenport lost the final to Kim Clijsters of Belgium last year after winning the title in 1997 and 2000.

Davenport is without pain for the first time in more than two years. She was hampered in 2003 by a toe ailment that was corrected by surgery in October.