Roddick rips past Gimelstob in first round

NEW YORK, Aug 29 (Reuters) Andy Roddick swept past fellow American Justin Gimelstob 7-6 6-3 6-3 to reach the second round of the US Open.

Fifth seed Roddick, the 2003 champion and runner-up last year, belted 17 aces and 59 winners in the victory, which took just under two hours yesterday.

Gimelstob, who had lost all eight of his matches in 2007 as he struggled to recover from back surgery last year, was two points away from taking the first-set tiebreaker when he aced Roddick for a 5-3 lead.

Roddick roared back, however, winning the next three points on his way to capturing the tiebreaker 8-6.

From that point on Roddick dominated, engaging in some good natured banter along the way with 30-year-old Gimelstob, who had said he was playing in his last U.S. Open.

The 24-year-old Roddick next plays Jose Acasuso, a four-set winner over fellow Argentine Vassallo Arguello.

REUTERS BJR ND1044