Hopes for a first home win in the men's singles at the US Open in six years were given a boost on Thursday with Andy Roddick and rising star Sam Querrey leading a charge into the third round.

Roddick, the fifth seed and the last American to win the title here in 2003, coasted through 6-1, 6-4, 6-4 against Frenchman Marc Giquel in a match that finished after midnight.

The giant 21-year-old Querrey, who this summer has taken over as the US number two, defeated compatriot Kevin Kim 7-5, 6-7 (6/8), 6-4, 6-4 and is just two wins from a possible quarterfinal match against top seed and title-holder Roger Federer.

Joining Roddick and Querrey in the third round of the top half of the draw were former US No. 1 James Blake, who edged Olivier Rochus of Belgium 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 6-3, and another outsized US player in John Isner, who blasted past Turkey's Marsel Ilhan 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7/1).

Earlier, compatriot Jesse Witten, a 26-year-old qualifier playing in just his second Grand Slam event, defeated Maximo Gonzalez of Argentina 6-7 (3/7), 6-4, 7-5, 6-2.

Next up for him will be fourth-seeded Serb Novak Djokovic, who had little trouble in seeing off Australian qualifier Carsten Ball 6-3, 6-4, 6-4.

"I think we've got a shot," said Querrey of the American chances of a home win.

"We've got Andy (Roddick) who has been in the top 10 for almost 10 years. Hopefully James (Blake) can get back up there. Hopefully Mardy (Fish) can get healthy.

"I'm climbing up the rankings. John Isner is doing really well. Jesse Levine is in the second round. Jesse Witten is in the third round. There's a big group of us here.

"I think we can make it like it once was in the '90s."

Querrey was referring to the decade when Pete Sampras, Andre Agassi, Jim Courier and Michael Chang were all in their prime and Americans won the US Open six times in 10 years.

Another American failure in the men's singles this year would make it six years in a row without a title, the worst winless run for home players since the Open era began in 1968.

Roddick said of his upcoming third round clash with Isner: "John has been playing a lot better and it's going to be a completely different matchup. It will come down to a couple of points here and there."

Early play on Thursday saw 10th seed Fernando Verdasco of Spain and 20th seed Tommy Haas of Germany set up an intriguing third-round clash.

Verdasco, a semifinalist in the Australian Open at the start of the year, brushed aside Florent Serra of France 6-3, 6-0, 6-3, while Haas was too good for American Robert Kendrick, winning 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (7/3).

The German, who has failed to get past the quarterfinals in New York in 12 previous appearances, said he expected a battle.

"He's obviously a very tough competitor and he's been playing extremely well. It's going to be a tough one," he said.

"I look forward to that. I will try and play my best and play smart that day."

Also through to the third round was Russian eighth seed Nikolay Davydenko, who defeated Jan Hernych of the Czech Republic 6-4, 6-1, 6-2. Davydenko was a semifinalist in 2006 and 2007.

French Open finalist Robin Soderling of Sweden, meanwhile, needed just 16 minutes to clinch his second-round tie when opponent Marcel Granollers of Spain abandoned with a back strain after just two games.

Top see Roger Federer reached the third round from the top half of the draw on Wednesday and he will play old foe Lleytwon Hewitt on Saturday as he seeks a record-equalling sixth straight US Open title.

AFP

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