The big-hitting American got off to a slow start but snapped back to attention and fired 11 aces past Georgian Irakli Labadze on his way to a 7-5 6-2 6-1 first round win yesterday.
"Obviously, it wasn't great tennis in the first set. But the last couple of sets, I felt like I started hitting the ball a little bit better," Roddick said.
"You'd rather have momentum going that way than backwards," he said.
Argentine seeds Guillermo Coria and Guillermo Canas also progressed, sixth seed Coria brushing aside Czech teenager Tomas Berdych 6-2 6-4 6-0.
Venus through
Venus Williams also joined sister Serena in the second round yesterday by overcoming Eleni Daniilidou of Greece 6-1, 7-5.
Neither player found their top form, although Williams might not want to so early in the tournament. The eighth-seeded American struggled to find a rhythm, often looked clumsy and failed to stamp her authority on her 40th-ranked opponent.
Despite her shortcomings, Williams was the more powerful player and was also steadier in the rallies, and that was enough against an opponent who appeared to lack any weapons to trouble her.
Daniilidou was also hindered by her serve, hitting nine double-faults.
The third of those double-faults gave Williams her first break point, and she broke for 3-1 when Daniilidou put the ball long. A fifth double-fault gave Williams another break for 5-1 and allowed her to serve out for the set.
Although Williams began the next set by breaking serve for a third time, she immediately dropped her own serve and then failed to convert three break points at 1-1.
Williams then broke again to lead 3-2, but once more failed to consolidate her lead and allowed Daniilidou to level at 4-4.
Williams earned yet another break to lead 5-4 when she forced Daniilidou to volley a backhand wide, but despite holding two match points she again dropped her own serve as Daniilidou belatedly raised her game and won some spirited rallies.
But that was the end of the Greek's late challenge, as Williams won the final eight points of the match.
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