Roddick soars past Santoro to enter second round

New York: Former world number one Andy Roddick roared past grand slam veteran Fabrice Santoro of France 6-2 6-2 6-2 on Wednesday to complete the men's first round at the US Open.

Roddick, the 2003 Open champion, lost just two points on his booming service as he raced through the opening set in 25 minutes and never looked back in booking a second-round match against up-and-coming teenager Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.

The 35-year-old Santoro, who extended his men's record by playing in his 65th grand slam, had beaten Roddick in their last meeting on the indoor carpet in Lyon in 2007.

The eighth-seeded Roddick blasted 41 winners past the overmatched Frenchman, including 15 aces. The American lost jUS t four points on his first serve the entire match.

"I felt good. That's the best I've felt in four, five months," Roddick, hampered by a shoulder injury earlier in the year, said in a courtside interview.

"Something about this place always gets me energised."

Santoro, by contrast, was thoroughly demoralised and on the last point of the 87-minute match stood passively and never lifted his racket as Roddick signed off with an ace. The Frenchman had to duck away from a Roddick rocket serve on the previoUS point that whizzed straight at him at 140 miles an hour (225 kph).

"I was really disappointed the way he had served the point before. He served right at me for sure," Santoro said, before cooling off and applauding Roddick's overall performance.

"He's a good guy," Santoro said. "I like him."

Roddick, 25, said he was aiming up the middle and missed.

"I wasn't going for him up 6-2 6-2 5-2," he said. "It was a bad miss. I was really excited about the way I was playing. To end it that way was a little disappointing."

That was the only sour note in the match for eighth-seeded Roddick, who played free and easy, slugging groundstroke winners off both wings and slashing volley winners with ease.

Roddick said he was feeling fit and did not regret passing up the Beijing Olympics to prepare for the Open.

The American was also operating with temporary coach Patrick McEnroe, his US Davis Cup captain, after his older brother John decided it was time to end their partnership.

"It was the obvious , best short-term solution for me right now," Roddick said about turning to McEnroe. "I figure he was someone who knew my game and my personality."

Next up for Roddick is 40th-ranked Gulbis, a 19-year-old who shares the same Aug. 30 birthday as Roddick.

"Gulbis serves a little bit bigger," he said. "He is a little bit streaky. I have to be ready for that moment that he takes a little break mentally."