The first semifinal of the 2010 Western and Southern Financial Group Masters event will feature an all-American clash between former champion Andy Roddick and an in-form Mardy Fish. Both players have had relative success on home soil this season with Roddick clinching the Sony Ericsson Open in March and Fish claiming Newport and Atlanta titles.

Wild card entrant Mardy Fish' road to semifinals has been highlighted with victories over players like Richard Gasquet and Andy Murray. The American also registered a nailbiting win over Roddick in the duo's previous encounter in Atlanta this year. Fish has been in phenomenal form this year and in many critics' eyes, has turned out to be a late bloomer, considering the fact that both Roddick and Fish started their careers together as teenagers. This year though brought the much awaited success for the latter, who entered the event in Cincinnati with an astonishing win-loss record.

Roddick, on the other hand, has been equally impressive with an exception of a dismal performance during the European season that included early losses ending in a disappointing Wimbledon loss to a little known Yen Hsun Lu. Roddick opened the year well with a title in Brisbane and followed up with a victory in Miami. Roddick did come up with some confident wins here in Cincinnati that include names like Robin Soderling and Novak Djokovic. This certainly boosts his chances of making the finals.

All in all, today's contest will once again live upto the expectations with a slight edge in Roddick's favour. TennisEarth.com predicts Roddick's win in two closely fought sets.

Click here to enjoy the point-by-point commentary of this match.