Roddick impresses in late, late show

The American, champion here in 2003 before Roger Federer began his five-year unbeaten run, moved a step closer to a potential semi-final date with the Swiss by blasting Frenchman Marc Gicquel away 6-1 6-4 6-4 and he will next face unseeded compatriot John Isner.

It took 113 minutes as Gicquel made a bit of a fight of it, at least on his own serve, preventing the rout that had looked on the cards after Roddick swept the first set in 25 minutes.

"Even in the second set when he got down, he started playing a little bit more aggressively and that was certainly the case in the last game," Roddick said.

"He came back and I was getting a little nervous there but I'm glad I was able to pull it out."

Roddick faces fellow American Isner in the third round having twice beaten the 6ft 9ins 24-year-old in previous meetings, although he is expecting a tougher contest this weekend.

World number four Novak Djokovic was rewarded for his greater consistency as he claimed a 6-3 6-4 6-4 victory over Carsten Ball in the second round match.

Eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko got past Czech Jan Hernych 6-4 6-1 6-2 to set up a third-round meeting with Swiss player Marco Chiudinelli, a four-set winner over Mikhail Youzhny.

Wimbledon semi-finalist Tommy Haas breezed into the third round with a 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-3) victory over American Robert Kendrick. and he will now face 10th seed Fernando Verdasco after he cruised past Florent Serra 6-3 6-0 6-3.

Number 21 seed James Blake rounded out the day session on Ashe with the home crowd roaring their approval as he beat Belgium's Olivier Rochus 6-4 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 6-3, while compatriot Sam Querrey, the 22nd seed, won an all-American tie with Kevin Kim 7-5 6-7 (6-8) 6-4 6-4.