Melbourne awaits Safin-Roddick showdown

MELBOURNE, Jan 18 (Reuters) The Australian Open gets the big-name showdown it's been waiting for tomorrow when brooding Russian Marat Safin takes on all-American powerhouse Andy Roddick in a dream third-round matchup.

With the tournament's first week dominated by the opening day brawl between fans and the equally brutal heat that followed, Safin and Roddick, two of the game's biggest drawcards, promise to light up the showpiece Rod Laver Arena.

''When I saw the draw I expected to play Marat,'' sixth-seeded Roddick said after his second-round dismissal of Frenchman Marc Gicquel on Wednesday.

''I think we're both better than a third-round match-up but that's the way it shakes out.'' Their career meetings stand at 3-3, but Safin enjoyed a five-set victory against Roddick in the 2004 quarter-final at Melbourne Park before falling to Roger Federer at the final hurdle.

''We've always had close matches,'' Roddick added. ''We're kind of similar, we both like to hit a big ball, we both serve pretty big, move well for being considered big guys.

''I think it's an interesting match-up for us and maybe for the fans as well'' Safin, who has come through two five-set matches to reach the last 32, believes Roddick to be a much-improved player and the key may lie in who makes the fastest start.

''It's very important for both of us, who is going to be more aggressive at the beginning of the match and who will take the opportunities and who will choke first,'' said the 2005 champion.

While fans will be rubbing their hands in expectation, Roddick certainly wasn't over the moon at having to play such a tough opponent early on in a slam.

For that he could blame Safin. The Russian missed the defence of his title last year through injury and by the time he went to the US Open, his ranking had nosedived to outside the top 100.

Although he has now climbed back up to 27th, it still was not enough to spare him from a such a bruising encounter so early in a grand slam.

REUTERS PM KP1046