Roddick and Venus keep US flag flying

ANDY RODDICK and Venus Williams had the Stars and Stripes flying proudly over centre court as the two Americans powered into the fourth round at Wimbledon yesterday.

Barely an hour after Roddick had qualified for the last 16 of the men's singles for the first time, Venus had joined him at the same stage of the women's with a 6-1, 6-2 win over Russia's Nadia Petrova.

The fourth seed, champion here in 2000 and 2001 before being dethroned last year by sister Serena, will now get her chance to avenge her fourth round defeat at the French Open by Petrova's compatriot, Vera Zvonareva.