US Open: Roddick not giving up just yet

American ousts Tomic in straight sets to move into the 4th round.

NEW YORK:

Andy Roddick served notice he will not go gently into retirement, blasting into the fourth round of the US Open by dispatching Australian teen Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-4, 6-0 in only 87 minutes.

The former world number one earlier announced that he will retire from the sport after the US Open.

"I didn't feel relaxed at all, not even a little bit," said Roddick. "I had no idea what was going to happen out there. That was a different kind of nerves than I've had before. That was surprising for me."

Meanwhile, Serbian second-seed Djokovic advanced after overwhelming Brazil's Rogerio Dutra Silva 6-2, 6-1, 6-2.

"It was very windy so it was very important to stay focused, but I played great," said Djokovic. "Even if the scoreline doesn't indicate it, it was a tough match."

Robson pulls another upset

In the women’s singles match, Laura Robson ousted 2011 French Open winner Li Na 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 for her first career triumph over a top-10 foe, booking a fourth-round showdown against Samantha Stosur, who registered a 7-6 (7/5), 6-2 victory Varvara Lepchenko.

"That's going to be really tough match," said Robson. "I'm going to work hard and just do the best I can."

In other matches, Maria Sharapova eliminated 252nd-ranked US collegian Mallory Burdette 6-1, 6-1 and expressed her delight with her performance.

"I'm really happy to go one round further than last year," said the Russian

Meanwhile, world number one Victoria Azarenka routed China's Zheng Jie 6-0, 6-1 to book a round-of-16 match with Georgia's Anna Tatishvili.

Del Potro, Hewitt march on

Elsewhere, Juan Martin Del Potro took a 6-2, 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 victory over American Ryan Harrison and will play for a place in the last-16 against compatriot Leonardo Mayer.

Also, Lleyton Hewitt outlasted Luxenbourg's Gilles Muller 3-6, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-4. He will next face Spanish fourth-seed David Ferrer, who moved into the third round by ousting Dutch qualifier Igor Sijsling 6-2, 6-3, 7-6 (14/12).

In the men’s double matches, Pakistani ace Aisamul Haq Qureshi and Dutch Jean-Julien Rojer were set to play their second-round match against Argentinean pair Carlos Berlocq and Leonardo Mayer late last night.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2012.