Roddick wins, withdraws from Dubai

MEMPHIS, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Andy Roddick reached the semifinals of the Regions Morgan Keegan Championships in Memphis Friday and then withdrew from next week's Dubai event.

Roddick, a winner of this tournament seven years ago, fought off Sam Querrey 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 to get to the semifinals. He will face Lleyton Hewitt, who was a 6-2, 6-3 winner over Christophe Rochus Friday.

It will be the first time in three years Hewitt and Roddick have met. Hewitt owns a 6-3 advantage in their series.

The other semifinal will send Radek Stepanek against Dudi Sela. Stepanek surprised second-seeded Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 and Sela defeated Igor Kunitsyn 4-6, 6-4, 6-2.

After his victory Friday, Roddick said he would not play in Dubai because of the United Arab Emirates decision to deny Israeli WTA player Shahar Peer a visa to compete in the women's tournament this week.

Roddick won the Dubai event last year.