Roddick, Safin again advance at Cincinnati

MASON, Ohio, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- Lleyton Hewitt, Marat Safin and Andy Roddick were among the winners Thursday at the Western & Southern Financial Group Masters in suburban Cincinnati.

The event at Mason, Ohio, is the seventh of nine in the Masters Series in 2005.

Hewitt, the No. 3 seed, beat Mario Ancic 6-1, 6-4. The two-time Grand Slam champion, who lost to Andre Agassi in last year's final, also reached the Cincy final in 2002 before losing to Carlos Moya.

Safin, the fourth seed, routed Dominik Hrbaty 6-0, 6-3. Safin, who has won two major titles, beat Hewitt in January's Australian Open final.

Roddick, No. 5 and runner-up at Wimbledon, ousted Juan Ignacio Chela, 7-6 (7-4), 6-2. Roddick won the title in 2003, beating fellow American Mardy Fish in the championship match.