Saturday, July 22 2006 14:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Indianapolis: James Blake squeezed past Nicolas Mahut (7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (7/5) Friday to place three Americans in the semi-finals of the ATP Indianapolis Open for the first time in 16 years. The shaven-headed top seed joined compatriots Andy Roddick and Robby Ginepri in the final four, with Florida-based Belgian Xavier Malisse completing the lineup.

"I can't think of a better ending, two tough tie breaks and a match which turned on a couple of points," said Blake, ranked sixth in the world. "Three Americans in the semis brings a smile to my face.

The last time three US players got this far here was 1992, when it was Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Todd Martin.

"'They' say American tennis is declining I don't listen to 'them.' We know how well we can play on these hard courts," said Blake, winner of Sydney and Las Vegas this season.

In Saturday's semi-finals, Blake will face Malisse, who upset Chile's third seed Fernando Gonzalez 7-6 (7/4), 6-4.

Two-time champion Roddick avenged one of the worst defeats of his career as he hammered Luxembourg's Gilles Muller 6-2, 6-3.

Defending champion Ginepri stormed into the final four as he crushed an off-the-boil Paradorn Srichaphan 6-4, 6-1 in just 49 minutes, improving to 4-1 over Asia's top player.

Just 11 months after losing in three tiebreak sets in the US Open first round to Muller, Roddick produced an efficient victory - also beating approaching raindrops.

"This win feels great, he broke my heart at the Open," Roddick said of his loss to Muller.

"I served well and was in his sevice games even when I didn't break him. This was a straightforward, solid match," he said.

Victory in 64 minutes set up a third straight meeting in Indianapolis against Ginepri, a long-running rivalry which began when the pair were 11 years old.

"I'm looking forward to Robby," said Roddick, who won the last of his 20 career titles in October.

"He beat me here last year (quarter-finals) and I got him the year before (third round)," he said.

"Neither of us have a final this season, this is a match to look forward to. There are no secrets, we both want that final," he said.

Ginepri's rout of Paradorn ushered the fourth seed back to the future after the American lifted the title a year ago with a breakthrough performance.

Ginepri, ranked 100th going into the 2005 edition, rode his momentum that year to an unexpected US Open semi-final spot.

He proved to be untouchable under Indianapolis clouds against Paradorn, the American losing just seven points on serve and running off 11 straight points midway through the second set.

"It's deja vu coming back here," said Ginepri who had gone out 10 times in opening matches this season in 15 starts.

"I can't explain it," he said.

"This is my best showing of the season, it's all rolling and clicking," he said after playing his first quarter-final of 2006. "If I'm going to keep winning matches, now is the time," he said.

Ginepri dominated completely, never facing a break point.