Roddick battles through to last 16
Roddick is the only American in the men's draw after James Blake crashed out
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Friday, 29, Jun 2007 09:46
Andy Roddick booked his place in the fourth round of Wimbledon after a hard-fought win over Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-2).
The American survived a scare in the third set to overcome the Spaniard in one hour and 52 minutes at the close of day five of the championships.
In the battle of the big serves, Roddick broke once on his way to taking the opening set.
The 24-year-old made a bright start to the second set by breaking Verdasco in the opening game on route to clinching the set with just 58 minutes on the clock.
Roddick needed an ace measured at 144mph to save a break point early in the third set. But the two-time runner-up at SW19 was broken in game four after a weak forehand into the net.
Verdasco came agonisingly close to breaking again for a 5-1 lead and then lost his own service game when on the verge of winning the set.
Roddick rescued break points off his own serve to force a tiebreak where he won four straight points to seal victory.
The former US Open champion, the only American left in the men's draw, will face France's Paul-Henri Mathieu in the last 16.