Andy Roddick Sets Up Meeting With His Mate Jürgen Melzer

Andy Roddick will face his good friend Jürgen Melzer in the third round after his four-set victory over Igor Kunitsyn on No1 Court. Their friendship has not extended to the court and Roddick, with eight wins from their eight meetings, will be confident of seeing off the Austrian, the world No30 and a friend for the past 10 years, and progressing to the last 16.

The 26-year-old was in imperious form for the opening two sets of his 6–4, 6–2, 3–6, 6–2 victory, making just five unforced errors as he led the game from the baseline, making particular use of his controlled sliced backhand. A finalist in 2004 and 2005, the No6 seed is a possible semi-final opponent for Andy Murray.

"I think a lot of [mine and Jürgen's friendship]," Roddick said. "We kind of grew up together. You know, I think we enjoy each other's company a little bit." Melzer must be a forgiving friend, with seven of Roddick's eight victories over the 28-year-old coming in straight sets. "I think to be professional, you leave that kind of courtesy in the locker room when you go out on court," said Roddick.

The big-serving American lived up to his reputation in the second round, landing 18 aces on his Russian opponent and a break looked nearly unfathomable until the eighth game of the third set, when Kunitsyn stunned his opponent and the crowd. He served out to love to take the second set and suggest the possibility of the unlikeliest of comebacks.

Stung by the loss of the third set in which he made 11 unforced errors – as many as in the other three sets combined – Roddick snapped back into the aggressive style that had delivered him the opening two sets and made relatively short work of his opponent, who is still to progress beyond the second round in five attempts.

"I probably played my best set by far in the fourth set," said Roddick. "I knew I was getting the better of him. I knew I was getting a lot more looks at his serve than he was at mine."