Roddick turns on the power

World number one Andy Roddick blasted his way into the fourth round of the Australian Open today with a comprehensive straight-sets victory over fellow American Taylor Dent.

Roddick, who will now face Dutchman Sjeng Schalken in the last 16, joined fellow Americans Andre Agassi, James Blake and Robby Ginepri in advancing to the fourth round after his 6-2 6-0 6-2 victory.

There were also big wins for Russia’s Marat Safin in five enthralling sets against Todd Martin and Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan.

But all eyes were on the Rod Laver Arena and an encounter which had promised so much.

Their head-to-head record read one win apiece, but Dent imploded, serving 11 double-faults in total as Roddick won 12 consecutive games to race through the first two sets.

Dent broke Roddick early in the first set, but as soon as the tournament’s top seed clicked into gear, there was only ever one winner.

“Taylor and I have split out last two matches, both were very close. I was lucky, he didn’t have his best night tonight and I played pretty well,” said Roddick.

“I was happy with way I played and I know Taylor probably isn’t too happy with his performance, but I am happy to be through to forth round.”

Roddick broke Dent three times in the first set and sailed through the second untroubled behind his fearsome serve and ferocious array of groundstrokes as the dejected 27th seed was limited to just nine points.

When Dent finally won a game, at the start of the third set, it was greeted with ironic cheers from the crowd and a relieved smile from his father, Phil Dent, the Australian Open finalist in 1974.

But Roddick’s charge was unstoppable and he sealed the match in just 71 minutes, having broken Dent eight times and won 18 of 22 games.

“It was the worst tennis experience of my entire life,” said Dent.

“Not only my professional career, but my entire life. It was embarrassing, absolutely embarrassing.”

Agassi had threatened to be just as emphatic when he raced to take the first set from Thomas Enqvist and swept the Swede aside 6-0 6-3 6-3.

Enqvist’s record against Agassi was impressive – five wins to four from the American – but the number-four seed balanced the ledger in just one hour and 29 minutes.

“Every day’s a new day,” said Agassi, referring to Enqvist’s previous successes against him.

“You have to go out there and execute and you have to bring your game. Today I was really hitting the ball well.

“It was breezy conditions. I wasn’t making a lot of errors, I was running down a lot of his shots.

“He started the match off a little tough with a few double faults. I hit a few good returns and next thing you know I’m up a double break. Once you get that lead it’s a big advantage.

“He had 3-1 in the second and I turned it round and played another great game.”

Agassi faces Srichaphan, who beat him at Wimbledon in 2002 and is anxious to overturn that defeat.

“On that day he was too good for me. My hope is to go out there and let him know I can play better than that,” he said.

Srichaphan also progressed in straight sets, blasting Gustavo Kuerten aside 6-3 7-5 6-4, as did Blake with a 6-1 6-3 6-2 rout of qualifier Olivier Patience.

The American, who avoided a tough opening round when seventh seed James Blake withdrew, took just 75 minutes to beat Patience 6-1 6-3 6-2.

Blake’s confidence is high and his remodelled serve is working well.

“It felt great. I’ve really made a commitment to this year playing my game,” he said.

“I’m going to go for my shots and not worry about other people saying I’m making too many errors. So far I’ve done that.

“I’m in the fourth round and hopefully I can go further. This is the furthest I’ve been in a ‘Slam’ to date. I just happen to play better each round this tournament.”

Blake will now play Safin after the Russian’s roller-coaster tournament continued with an epic battle against Martin, the master of endurance, who eventually fell 7-5 1-6 4-6 6-0 7-5.

The exuberant Russian said afterwards the “old Marat” would have lost a match like that, but a new attitude and commitment to keep battling stood him in good stead.

“It’s another opportunity. There are opportunities everywhere and you have a chance even when you are losing,” he said.

“Today, I lost two sets in a row and then he was playing really good tennis. I couldn’t find myself. I was a little bit lost.

“It’s important to wait and then fight to get your chances. If you are able to take them, that’s good.”

Ginepri overcame Nicolas Escude in straight sets 6-2 6-3 6-4 to reach the fourth round of a Grand Slam for the first time.