Roddick dismisses Hewitt in quarter-finals

NEW YORK, Sep 7 (Reuters) Andy Roddick marched into the semi-finals of the US Open by overpowering Lleyton Hewitt 6-3 7-5 6-4 in a battle of former champions.

Hoping to become the first American male to win a grand slam tournament since he won the Open in 2003, Roddick blasted 17 aces and successfully landed 72 per cent of his first serves to subdue the Australian champion of 2001 yesterday.

Ninth seed Roddick will now face unseeded Mikhail Youzhny of Russia, who shocked second seed Rafael Nadal 6-3 5-7 7-6 6-1 in their quarter-final.

Roddick had 46 winners and only 19 unforced errors against Hewitt to win the match in under two hours. He returns to the Open semi-finals for the first time since he won it three years ago.

REUTERS PM VV0943