Former world number one Andy Roddick [ Images ] beat Marat Safin [ Images ] 6-3, 6-3 to reach the final of the Kooyong Classic on Thursday and said a shortened off-season could work in his favour at next week's Australian Open [ Images ].

The Kooyong Classic is a warm-up tournament for the first grand-slam event of the year, which begins on Monday.

Roddick, the winner at Kooyong in 2006 and 2007, will face either Chilean Fernando Gonzalez [ Images ] or Marcos Baghdatis [ Images ] of Cyprus in Saturday's final.

Having helped the United States to victory in the Davis Cup just over a month ago, Roddick has had less time than most players to recover and prepare for the new season.

However, the 25-year-old looked in good form against Safin and said he felt ready for a crack at the Australian Open title.

"I feel pretty good physically," Roddick said.

"Maybe the short off-season was beneficial to me because I didn't take too much time off.

"I feel as prepared as I've been, and I feel like I'm hitting the ball pretty well. This is good preparation."

Briton Andy Murray [ Images ], who was beaten by Safin on day one, came back from a set and 3-0 down to beat Croat Ivan Ljubicic 6-7, 6-4, 6-2.

Murray will play Australian Brydan Klein, who replaced Argentine David Nalbandian [ Images ] after he pulled out with back spasms, in the play-off for fifth place.

World number four Nikolay Davydenko [ Images ] of Russia [ Images ] also withdrew from the eight-man exhibition event on Thursday, citing fatigue.

World number one Roger Federer [ Images ], who withdrew on the eve of the event because of a stomach virus, could yet play one match on Saturday, organisers said.