Roddick Eases Into Fourth Round

© Getty ImagesAndy Roddick is a three-time semi-finalist in Indian Wells.

Top American Andy Roddick made his way comfortably into the fourth round at the BNP Paribas Open, defeating Dutchman Thiemo de Bakker 6-3, 6-4 on Tuesday at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 tennis tournament in Indian Wells.

Roddick, who broke de Bakker once in each set and saved the one threat he faced on serve, said: “I felt pretty good. I felt like the points he was winning he was either having to play a pretty high risk shot, maybe go for a winner, or he was having to go deep into rallies. So if you do that over the course of a match, you normally like your chances.”

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World No. 8 Roddick, a three-time Indian Wells semi-finalist, has enjoyed an outstanding start to the season, reaching the quarter-finals or better in all four of his tournament appearances. He opened the season with his 28th ATP World Tour title at the Brisbane International and finished runner-up to Fernando Verdasco in San Jose.

The 27 year old will next come up against a well-rested Jurgen Melzer, who gained safe passage after German Simon Greul withdrew prior to their third-round match due to illness.

Roddick has defeated Melzer in all nine of the previous meetings, but he said about the No. 22 seed: “Jurgen is always tough. He's capable of playing a couple different ways. He was capable of coming forward, attacking, really being the aggressor, which is always a little bit uncomfortable.  With him it's important to hang on to your service games.”

Also Tuesday, 18th-seeded Spaniard Tommy Robredo dropped serve in the opening game but came back strong to dismiss Israeli Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-0. Robredo will face Marcos Baghdatis for a place in the quarter-finals after the Cypriot saved three match points to upset World No. 1 Roger Federer on Tuesday night. (Read report)