U.S. Open, Day 4 Preview: Roddick and Blake Take Command of Ashe Stadium

Queens, New York—Americans Andy Roddick and James Blake will attempt to make the third round of the year's final Major today. The veteran Yanks cruised through their opening first round encounters and will hope the same trend continues on Thursday. Blake will battle the shortest player on tour Oliver Rochus, and Roddick will engage in an evening session tussle with 32-year-old Frenchman Marc Gicquel. Blake will take a 3-1 H2H lead over Rochus into the final day session match, and Roddick will harness a perfect 3-0 H2H advantage over Gicquel. Roddick should fly through Gicquel in comprehensive fashion; the Frenchmen does nothing better than A-Rod and will likely crumble after the first set. Blake on the other hand is a bit of a question mark going into his clash with Oli Rochus. The diminutive Belgium is solid as a rock from the baseline and possesses one of the most brilliant one-handed backhands on tour. Blake will be concerned with jumping all over his opponents ser...