Roddick reaches U.S. Open quarterfinals

NEW YORK, Sept. 3 (UPI) -- American Andy Roddick advanced Monday to the U.S. Open tennis quarterfinals with a fourth-round victory, but American James Blake was eliminated.

The fifth-seeded Roddick was playing Tomas Berdych when the Czech retired in the second set, with the American leading 7-6 (8-6), 2-0. Berdych, who called for a trainer early in the first set, actually had a set point in the first-set tiebreak, but Roddick fought back to capture the stanza. Two games later, the ninth-seeded Berdych called it quits due to an apparent breathing problem.

Roddick's second-round opponent, Argentine Jose Acasuso, also retired against the former world No. 1 American.

Roddick, 25, will meet Monday's Roger Federer-Feliciano Lopez winner in the quarterfinals. The reigning three-time U.S. Open champion, Federer beat the 2003 champion Roddick in last year's finale.

Blake, seeded No. 6, lost to German Tommy Haas in five sets, 4-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-0, 7-6 (7-4). Blake has won only one five-set match in his career. That was last Thursday against Frenchman Fabrice Santoro.