MELBOURNE, Jan. 20 (UPI) -- Second-seeded Andy Roddick easily advanced into the fourth round of the Australian Open with a straight-set victory over Julien Benneteau Friday.
Roddick needed just one hour and 22 minutes to post a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 decision over the overmatched Frenchman at Rod Laver Arena. The 2003 U.S. Open champion was never broken and racked up 17 aces to go along with 28 winners.
Roddick, seeking to reach the quarterfinals at the season's first Grand Slam event for the fourth consecutive year, will next meet Marcos Baghdatis in the fourth round. Baghdatis easily beat German qualifier Denis Gremelmayr 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 in one hour and 20 minutes.
The big upset of the afternoon came when crafty Frenchman Fabrice Santoro sent eighth-seeded Argentine Gaston Gaudio packing, winning 6-3, 6-2, 5-7, 1-6, 6-4 in a match that lasted nearly four hours.
