Roddick edges out Gaudio to reach last 16 in Rome

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ROME, May 9 (Reuters) Third seed Andy Roddick edged into the last 16 of the Rome Masters with a 6-1 7-6 win over former French Open champion Gaston Gaudio today.

The American, who was playing his first tournament since retiring from the Miami Masters with a hamstring injury in March, dominated the early stages of the contest.

He lashed a forehand drive down the line to go a break up in the fourth game, then broke again in the sixth before taking the first set in 28 minutes.

The second set, however, was much tighter. Roddick created four match points with aggressive serve-volleying, but 2004 Roland Garros winner Gaudio saved them all.

Gaudio too had a chance to take the match to a deciding set at 8-7 up, but Roddick fired down an ace.

A double fault by the Argentine, however, gave Roddick a fifth match point, which he converted by coming into the net to put away a winning volley.

In the last 16, Roddick will play the winner of the later match between Juan Ignacio Chela and Igor Andreev.

REUTERS BJR RK1910