Andy Roddick was relieved to have avoided falling into Andy Murray's trap after reaching the Regions Morgan Keegan Championship final in Memphis.

The American world number four avenged last week's semi-final loss to the Scot in San Jose with a 6-3 7-6 (7-4) victory over the 19-year-old overnight.

He will now face Tommy Haas in the final but admits Murray was a tough obstacle to overcome.

He said: "You don't want to go out of tournaments two weeks in a row to the same guy. That's not much fun.

"I tried to switch the strategy. He's good at baiting you.

"It's weird because he almost invites you to come in. He's one of the few players who will do that.

"He'll hit that slice in the middle of the court without a whole lot on it and then he'll pass.

"He does that really well so I didn't want to come in unless it was on my terms. That was a big difference.

"Coming into today I didn't think I was hitting the ball that well and I wasn't getting the depth that I wanted to.

"Today I thought I did a lot better and to feel like you're doing that well against Andy is a good sign because you normally feel the other way."

Murray, who is now taking a week off, admitted he was not at his best and did not produce the kind of tennis that can beat Roddick.

The world number 13, who had won his previous eight matches, said: "I wasn't frustrated really. The two things that are important to do against him, I didn't really do.

"I didn't serve particularly well and didn't return well. They're two things I've been doing pretty well all week and the last few times I have played against him.

"I didn't play a great match, in fairness. I had my chance at 5-3 to win the (second) set and played a horrible game to get broken.

"In the tie-break, I missed one bad shot at 4-3, a forehand that hit the tape, and to be fair to him he came up with some big shots and big serves and deserved to win the match."

Murray was broken in his opening service game and struggled to claw back the momentum after that.

He broke in the second set to give him a chance of levelling the match but Roddick hit back immediately and closed out the tie-break.

He admitted his slow start had cost him.

"I was maybe a little bit lethargic at the start of the match but once I'd warmed up at the start of the second set I was moving pretty well and started to get into more rallies," Murray said.

"I felt like I pretty much gave the first set away. I lost a few of his service games to love.

"In the second set I obviously started returning better, giving myself a chance of winning the set and didn't take it."