Rediff

Washington, Aug 28: Former world number one Andy Roddick roared past Grand Slam veteran Fabrice Santoro of France 6-2, 6-2, 6-2 on Wednesday to complete the men's first round at the US Open.

Roddick, the 2003 Open champion, lost just two points on his booming service as he raced through the opening set in 25 minutes and never looked back in booking a second-round match against up-and-coming teenager Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.

The 35-year-old Santoro, who extended his men's record by playing in his 65th Grand Slam, had beaten Roddick in their last meeting on the indoor carpet in Lyon in 2007.

The eighth-seeded Roddick blasted 41 winners past the overmatched Frenchman, including 15 aces. The American lost just four points on his first serve the entire match.

"I felt good. That's the best I've felt in four, five months," Roddick, 25, said in a courtside interview.

"Something about this place always gets me energised."

Davenport Stumbles into Third Round

Lindsay Davenport needed to rely on her greater wealth of experience to steer past Russian teenager Alisa Kleybanova 7-5 6-3 in the second round of the US Open on Wednesday.

Davenport, champion in 1998, struggled to find her range in the opening match of the night session but capitalised on 27 unforced errors from Kleybanova to seal victory.

She will next face Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli.

The American 23rd seed served for the opening set at 5-4 up but some dogged play from her 19-year-old opponent meant she had to toil on for another two games before bagging it.

Kleybanova, competing at the Open for the first time, tried to stay in the hunt in the second set but was eventually outclassed and bowed out by tipping a backhand wide.