Big-hitting Roddick sinks Saffin to set up tussle with Ancic

ANDY RODDICK won the battle of the big-hitting former grand slam champions in four sets to bring an early end to Marat Safin’s Australian Open campaign.

The sixth seed triumphed 7-6 (7/2) 2-6 6-4 7-6 (7/2) over the 26th seed to secure a last-16 encounter against Croatia’s Mario Ancic.

Roddick won his lone major at the 2003 US Open but has been playing well for the past six months since convincing Jimmy Connors to be his coach. Connors just joined Roddick Down Under after the death of his mother, Gloria.