Andy Roddick [ Images ] remained on track for a third straight Stella Artois title by beating Radek Stepanek 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 in the semi-finals of the grasscourt event on Saturday.

The American is bidding to join John McEnroe [ Images ] and Lleyton Hewitt [ Images ] as the only players to win three titles in a row at the Wimbledon [ Images ] warm-up event.

"He kind of had me in a stranglehold for a while there, so I really had to get myself pumped up and going," the second seed said.

"I played some of my best tennis in that third set."

World number four Roddick, Wimbledon runner-up last year, said he was playing by instinct.

"I am really not too smart so the less I think out there the better," he said.

Roddick will play Ivo Karlovic [ Images ] or former Australian Open [ Images ] champion Thomas Johansson in Sunday's final. The pair clash later on Saturday.

Karlovic, at 6ft 10ins the tallest player in professional tennis, is appearing in his first ATP Tour semi-final after beating top seed Lleyton Hewitt in the last round.

Johansson, Tim Henman's [ Images ] conqueror, is looking to reach his fourth ATP grasscourt final.