Roddick strides into French last 16 for first time

PARIS (Reuters) - Sixth seed Andy Roddick powered into the French Open fourth round for the first time on Saturday with a confident 6-1 6-4 6-4 victory over Frenchman Marc Gicquel.

Roddick, the last American man to win a grand slam at the U.S. Open in 2003, broke in the second and sixth games and his potent deliveries ensured he was never in danger on his own serve as he took the first set in 28 minutes.

Looking threatening at the net, Roddick forced the 32-year-old Frenchman to miss a dropshot to break for 4-3 before going two sets up with a backhand winner.

Even the partisan crowd could not lift Gicquel, although he saved two match points when Roddick could not get enough clout into a backhand and then missed an easy forehand. Roddick advanced with a scorching serve that Gicquel could not control.