Roddick safely into third round

NEW YORK, Sept. 4 (UPI) -- Andy Roddick completed another good day for seeded players at the U.S. Open Thursday by coasting to a victory over Marc Gicquel.

No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic and eighth-seeded Nikolay Davydenko joined the fifth-seeded Roddick in the third round.

Roddick defeated Gicquel in a late-night match 6-1, 6-4, 6-4. That set up a third-round meeting with John Isner, who advanced Thursday by defeating Marsel Ilhan 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-1). Roddick has won both his previous meetings with Isner.

Djokovic moved into the third round with a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 decision over Carsten Bell and Davydenko had no trouble in disposing of Jan Hernych 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

In one of the best matches of the day, No. 21 James Blake saved three set points in the third and advanced past Olivier Rochus 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 6-3.

In other action, No. 10 Fernando Verdasco defeated Florent Serra 6-3, 6-0, 6-3; No. 20 Tommy Haas ousted Robert Kendrick 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7-3); and No. 22 Sam Querrey survived against Kevin Kim 7-5, 6-7 (6-8), 6-4, 6-4.

Other seeded players advancing included No. 12 Robin Soderling, No. 14 Tommy Robredo and No. 15 Radek Stepanek.