Wimbledon: Murray Steamrollers Roddick

Andy Murray has stormed into the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time with a sensational straight sets win over two-time finalist Andy Roddick on Centre Court.

Murray made a mockery of Roddick's reputation as the biggest server in the game by breaking the American three times on his way to a 7-6, 6-4, 6-4 win in exactly two and a half hours.

Murray seized control right from the start against an opponent who has failed to reach a tour final this year and was clearly rattled by his 19-year-old opponent's audacity. Renowned for his fighting heart, it was Roddick who looked a beaten man long before the long cross-court forehand which sealed Murray's victory and sent the packed crowd delirious.

Roddick had had his chances including four set points in the first set but it was Murray who held his nerve best after forcing his way into the first set tie-break. Amid a surreal atmosphere as the crowd gasped and groaned at news of England's penalty shoot-out woe in Germany, Murray took the breaker 7-4 and underlined his dominance.

Roddick showed signs of a recovery midway through the second set as he sought to erase the memory of his only previous match with Murray when he was beaten in the San Jose semi-finals in February. Murray saved four break points against his serve before settling back into punishing Roddick, forcing him to come up with two successive aces to save more break points against him.

The American, facing the prospect of possibly dropping out of the world top 10 with defeat, seemed in two minds about how to deal with his scampering opponent. Indeed Murray was even managing to block back the majority of Roddick's first serves and when his opponent flopped a simple slice into the net the Scot had two more break points for a 5-3 lead.

Having wrapped up the second set, Murray could even afford to go a break down in the third set before hitting back and putting the pressure on Roddick to serve to stay in the match. A smash and a Roddick double fault left Murray two points from victory - and two points later a searing cross-court volley gave the 19-year-old match point. Roddick saved with a brave forehand which shaved the line, but three points later Murray got a second chance and when the American hit a forehand wide Murray wrapped up the best win of his career.