Roger’s still got it. Not that the 13-time slam winner ever lost it.

Pitted against America’s best Andy Roddick renewing a one-sided rivalry though last year in Miami proved different for only the second time in 17 meetings, Roger Federer rose to the occasion again ousting the No.7 seed in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 advancing to his fourth Australian Open Final- one huge win away from matching American great Pete Sampras for the most grand slams won by a male tennis player.

It was the 27 year-old Swiss former No.1 who ceased early control breaking Roddick in the third game producing the kind of tennis fans have grown accustomed to passing the game’s biggest server with ease to the tune of 51 winners.

Even after Roddick saved a couple and looked in position to fight off a third straight, a hustling Federer slid across in time ripping a forehand winner down the line. It was that kind of night with the No.2 seed even having success with challenges winning consecutive points on his serve while already up two breaks.

Normally, the man known as The Maestro doesn’t like the challenge system preferring to leave it up to the linesmen and chair umpire for overrules. But on a night he could do little wrong, Federer was even perfect on challenges getting more than half a dozen right to Roddick’s chagrin.

When he wasn’t having challenge success, he was deliberately daring Roddick to come in by using short low spinning backhand replies so he could set him up for the kill. In a brilliant opening set, Federer’s forehand was on producing 11 winners while his opponent struggled early.

However, this wasn’t like Juan Martin Del Potro as Roddick ratcheted up the serve nailing five of eight aces in a much more competitive second set. He even dug out of triple break point during the first game serving large and coming up with the right stuff to keep the pressure on Federer.

The problem was Federer was having even an easier time holding winning 83 percent (52 of 63) on his first serve along with a respectable 58 percent (19 of 33) on second serve for the match. While Roddick struggled during service games facing 13 break chances, the efficient Federer only gave him three cracks and each time they were only one in a game which wasn’t enough given the three-time Australian Open winner’s penchant for serving aces to climb out of trouble.

Still, a more aggressive Roddick continued to press on attacking the net though without great success (21 of 42). The second set remained tight with the 26 year-old Austin, Texas resident holding for 4-3. With a couple of big returns setting up winners in the next game, he was two points from breaking and getting a chance to serve it out and level the match.

But a resilient Federer dug out of trouble without facing a break point eventually reversing the pressure and then breaking Roddick at love in the 11th game to lead 6-5. He served it out for a commanding two set lead.

Unlike the one sided match they had two years ago in the same semifinal, Roddick didn’t go away playing even better in the third set holding more easily and hitting even bigger during rallies with some success to the capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd’s delight. His best moment came midway through the set when during a great rally, he surprised Federer with a topspin backhand drop shot winner out of his reach smiling even remarking that he got him with the kind of shot Roger can pull off.

Still, Roddick couldn’t capitalize with Federer going down the tee for aces even doubling up in that department by a 16-8 margin.

It continued to be a test of wills with each player protecting their serve as if it were a game of chess. Roddick had a slight opening up 5-4 and two points away from the set but Federer saved his best serving for those moments winning challenges and taking the next three points to hold for five all.

Sensing the kill, he turned on the switch nailing a backhand and forehand pass in succession taking the first couple of points on Roddick’s serve to groans from the crowd. He’d eventually setup two break points but a game Andy wouldn’t crack just yet coming through with a couple of winners including a putaway.

However, Federer finally converted on another chance ripping a backhand pass which Roddick could only get a stab at the net helplessly watching it sail long giving Roger his fourth break of the match.

After Roddick took the first point, Federer won the next three setting up two match points. During an extended rally, he finished it in style slugging a forehand winner up the line to clinch victory with a pump of the fist before being congratulated by a classy Roddick at the net.

With legendary Rod Laver in the building, Federer moved one step closer to tying Sampras’ 14 slams. Could his next opponent be No.1 ranked Rafael Nadal which would elevate their rivalry even further setting up the first ever battle for a major on a hard court?

We’ll just have to wait and see. Nadal will take on fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco later tonight with the improving No.14 seed playing the best tennis of his career ousting last year’s runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets the day before 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Roger Federer continued his one-sided rivalry with Andy Roddick. (Dave Saffran/NYSD)

Roger’s still got it. Not that the 13-time slam winner ever lost it.

Pitted against America’s best Andy Roddick renewing a one-sided rivalry though last year in Miami proved different for only the second time in 17 meetings, Roger Federer rose to the occasion again ousting the No.7 seed in straight sets 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 advancing to his fourth Australian Open Final- one huge win away from matching American great Pete Sampras for the most grand slams won by a male tennis player.

It was the 27 year-old Swiss former No.1 who ceased early control breaking Roddick in the third game producing the kind of tennis fans have grown accustomed to passing the game’s biggest server with ease to the tune of 51 winners.

Even after Roddick saved a couple and looked in position to fight off a third straight, a hustling Federer slid across in time ripping a forehand winner down the line. It was that kind of night with the No.2 seed even having success with challenges winning consecutive points on his serve while already up two breaks.

Normally, the man known as The Maestro doesn’t like the challenge system preferring to leave it up to the linesmen and chair umpire for overrules. But on a night he could do little wrong, Federer was even perfect on challenges getting more than half a dozen right to Roddick’s chagrin.

When he wasn’t having challenge success, he was deliberately daring Roddick to come in by using short low spinning backhand replies so he could set him up for the kill. In a brilliant opening set, Federer’s forehand was on producing 11 winners while his opponent struggled early.

However, this wasn’t like Juan Martin Del Potro as Roddick ratcheted up the serve nailing five of eight aces in a much more competitive second set. He even dug out of triple break point during the first game serving large and coming up with the right stuff to keep the pressure on Federer.

The problem was Federer was having even an easier time holding winning 83 percent (52 of 63) on his first serve along with a respectable 58 percent (19 of 33) on second serve for the match. While Roddick struggled during service games facing 13 break chances, the efficient Federer only gave him three cracks and each time they were only one in a game which wasn’t enough given the three-time Australian Open winner’s penchant for serving aces to climb out of trouble.

Still, a more aggressive Roddick continued to press on attacking the net though without great success (21 of 42). The second set remained tight with the 26 year-old Austin, Texas resident holding for 4-3. With a couple of big returns setting up winners in the next game, he was two points from breaking and getting a chance to serve it out and level the match.

But a resilient Federer dug out of trouble without facing a break point eventually reversing the pressure and then breaking Roddick at love in the 11th game to lead 6-5. He served it out for a commanding two set lead.

Unlike the one sided match they had two years ago in the same semifinal, Roddick didn’t go away playing even better in the third set holding more easily and hitting even bigger during rallies with some success to the capacity Rod Laver Arena crowd’s delight. His best moment came midway through the set when during a great rally, he surprised Federer with a topspin backhand drop shot winner out of his reach smiling even remarking that he got him with the kind of shot Roger can pull off.

Still, Roddick couldn’t capitalize with Federer going down the tee for aces even doubling up in that department by a 16-8 margin.

It continued to be a test of wills with each player protecting their serve as if it were a game of chess. Roddick had a slight opening up 5-4 and two points away from the set but Federer saved his best serving for those moments winning challenges and taking the next three points to hold for five all.

Sensing the kill, he turned on the switch nailing a backhand and forehand pass in succession taking the first couple of points on Roddick’s serve to groans from the crowd. He’d eventually setup two break points but a game Andy wouldn’t crack just yet coming through with a couple of winners including a putaway.

However, Federer finally converted on another chance ripping a backhand pass which Roddick could only get a stab at the net helplessly watching it sail long giving Roger his fourth break of the match.

After Roddick took the first point, Federer won the next three setting up two match points. During an extended rally, he finished it in style slugging a forehand winner up the line to clinch victory with a pump of the fist before being congratulated by a classy Roddick at the net.

With legendary Rod Laver in the building, Federer moved one step closer to tying Sampras’ 14 slams. Could his next opponent be No.1 ranked Rafael Nadal which would elevate their rivalry even further setting up the first ever battle for a major on a hard court?

We’ll just have to wait and see. Nadal will take on fellow Spaniard Fernando Verdasco later tonight with the improving No.14 seed playing the best tennis of his career ousting last year’s runner-up Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in four sets the day before 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Roger Federer has a scare but des advance.

For two sets, Roger Federer couldn’t do anything with Tomas Berdych. It was the younger 23 year-old Czech who seemed to finally have all the right answers getting within a set of snapping a seven-match losing streak to the 13-time slam winner.

The last time he prevailed was when he was a teenager during a 2004 Olympics upset preventing Federer from even medaling in Athens.

Unfortunately, nerves got the best of Berdych dropping the third set before Federer steadied in time coming back from two sets for just the fourth time in his illustrious career pulling out a 4-6, 6-7 (4), 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 Round of 16 win advancing to the Australian Open quarterfinals.

“You’ve got to hang in there, there’s no other solution,” a relieved Federer said later. “Tried to weather the storm. He was hitting the ball so heavy and so hard. He pushed me to the limit.”

It was the aggressive nature of the dangerous No.20 seed which put the three-time Australian Open champ in such a huge hole. Berdych has always had the ability to be a top five player but never the consistency. However, on this day he was in top form outslugging Federer from the baseline ripping rockets from both sides of the racket for winners.

Berdych broke Federer right away and got a key insurance break needed to help put away the opening set. The second saw the 27 year-old Swiss break early but before he could sustain it, his focused opponent broke back keeping it on serve.

Part of Roger’s problems were due to his bread and butter forehand going off which made it even more difficult to deal with an accurate Berdych. Though he saved two break points before holding in the 11th game, the set eventually went to a tiebreaker.

Entering it, Federer had won four of the previous five versus the same foe but this time, it was Berdych who had all the answers getting a minibreak lead before sealing it with a cross-court forehand winner pumping his fist.

Trailing by two sets, Federer twice broke Berdych but once again relinquished them in uncharacteristic fashion. But with a real opportunity to pull off the biggest win of his career, the younger Czech tightened up handing the seventh game over with three bad volley miscues including an overhead he bounced into the net to give a relieved Federer another chance. This time, he made good holding twice more including three aces in the 10th game to get back in the match.

Berdych began to become rattled following a crucial Deuce point in which he thought his forehand caught part of the line. However, his challenge couldn’t be overturned due to a rare technicality with the system which wasn’t working. It looked like it missed but an upset Berdych debated the call with the chair umpire before netting a volley to give Federer an early break in the fourth set.

One huge difference compared to the first couple of sets was Federer’s accuracy. He began getting Berdych in longer rallies due to outstanding defense with the strategy paying dividends with his opponent cooperating. Berdych committed 32 of 42 unforced errors in the last three sets while Roger made just 15 of 40 the rest of the way.

Beginning to wear down, Berdych called the trainer to tend to a left hamstring during a changeover near the end of the set. When he returned, he went back to his go for broke plan slugging the ball as hard as possible for winners. It nearly paid off but a resilient Federer fought off two break points dialing up his serve before drawing a long reply to square the match letting out a loud scream along with a double pump of the fists.

With his opponent broken, Federer loosened up saving his best tennis for the final set breaking Berdych twice to go up 4-0 before holding twice more. The end didn’t come easy as he blew three match points even double faulting to give his opponent one last look at a break chance.

However, in typical fashion he got a service winner and then followed up with two aces including one out wide on his fourth match point to finally clinch victory letting out a loud scream to cheers from the Rod Laver Arena capacity crowd.

“I enjoy those kind of fights. It doesn’t happen all the time. It’s always special,” Federer expressed after rallying from two sets down for the first time since 2005 against Rafael Nadal in Miami.

“I hope it’s a good omen. I feel like I could play a couple more sets, so that’s a good sign.“

The match took three hours and 28 minutes to complete but Federer looked like he would’ve gone even longer keeping a streak of quarterfinal appearances in slams alive extending it a record 20. His last defeat this early came at the hands of former French Open champion Gustavo Kuerten in Roland Garros back in 2004 of Round Three.

Federer will get another stiff challenge when he draws talented 20 year-old Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. The No.8 seed cameback from a set defeating promising Czech Marin Cilic 5-7, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2.

While it was anything but routine for the Federer Express, American Andy Roddick continued to roll along straight setting Spaniard Tommy Robredo 7-5, 6-1, 6-3. The seventh seed who’s only dropped one set in making the Final Eight had 13 aces to none also playing solid baseline tennis converting five of seven break chances punctuating victory with a nice forehand service volley winner before raising his arms in salute.

Roddick has had a pretty easy draw aside from a solid second round challenge from wildcard Xavier Malisse. However, business should pick up for the charasmatic 27 year-old former 2003 U.S. Open champ where he’ll await the winner between defending champ Novak Djokovic and former Aussie runner-up Marcos Baghdatis who’s been in fine form since trailing Robin Soderling a set and two breaks in Round Two.

If the unseeded Cypriot brings his ‘A’ game, he could challenge Djokovic. If not, a juicy quarter between the 21 year-old Serb and Roddick would be on tap with possibly Federer waiting in the semis.

Jankovic Upset: The biggest upset of Day Six took place on the women’s side with No.1 ranked Jelena Jankovic bowing out in disappointing fashion falling to No.16 Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli 6-1, 6-4.

With the Serb’s game not there, it was her 24 year-old opponent who took early control jumping out to a 5-0 lead using her power game to pull off the upset. She doubled Jankovic in winners (34-17) while finishing off 10 of 12 points at net.

In particular, Bartoli punished Jankovic’s second serve winning a ridiculous 71 percent (17 of 24 points) on her way to five breaks.

“I was really confident because I played really well [in] my last match against (Lucie) Safarova,” the pleased former 2007 Wimbledon finalist noted to the AP. “I knew I could beat Jelena on a good day, it was just a matter of executing it … play the right shot at the right time and doesn’t make too much mistake[s].

“I was not overwhelmed by the situation, and I just went for my shot[s] and everything went in today. It was just a great match.”

Meanwhile, it was a setback for Jankovic who still has yet to breakthrough at a major and entered off her best result making her fist final losing to American Serena Williams in a very competitive straight set effort at the U.S. Open.

“I just started slow. I … was completely not moving my feet. I was late on many shots. I was really not there, for some reason,” Jankovic lamented.

“I don’t know why. When I tried to focus and get into the match, things just didn’t work out for me.”

She paid plenty of credit to her game opponent:

“I thought, you know, just my opponent was … on fire today, and she was hitting everything and really went for her shots. Most of those were going in.”

Instead of continuing the pursuit for her first major, that will wait until Paris. Bartoli will next meet No.7 Russian Vera Zvonareva, who ousted countrywoman Nadia Petrova (10) in two close sets 7-5, 6-4 to setup a quarterfinal match.

Meantime, No.3 Russian Dinara Safina was almost an upset victim herself but found a way to comeback from two breaks and match points down in the third defeating No.15 Frenchwoman Alize Cornet 6-2, 2-6, 7-5.

The recently turned 19 year-old Cornet who already had set a new career best in slams making the Round of 16 just couldn’t put away Safina, who twice had amazing comeback wins last year in Paris including one versus Maria Sharapova.

Might it have helped? By her reaction, you couldn’t tell:

“I am so lucky that I’m in the quarterfinals, she was one point away,” the younger sister of Marat Safin pointed out in overcoming eight double faults and 52 unforced errors. “My heart is still pumping so hard.”

No matter how she got there, she’ll await the winner between feel good story Jelena Dokic and talented Russian Alisa Kleybanova with the latter leading 5-4 in the first set.

She needed three sets again. At this point, you can bet Jelena Dokic doesn’t care.

The 25 year-old wildcard whose comeback story has been well documented overcoming her demanding Dad and a long battle with depression continued her amazing run advancing to the Round of 16 with a 3-6, 6-1, 6-2 upset over 11th seeded Dane Caroline Wozniacki at Rod Laver Arena.

After committing 16 unforced errors to drop the first set, the popular Dokic who’s representing Australia seized command winning six of the next seven games with the thunderous ground game that once had her ranked in the top four before her life turned upside down.

She dominated the talented Wozniacki following a first set which saw the gifted 18 year-old serve six aces. Dokic dictated play smacking seven of 31 winners while limiting her opponent to only 12 total points easily capturing the second set to level the match.

After they exchanged early breaks in the final set, a resilient Dokic got the pivotal break of serve when during an extended rally that saw one of her forehands catch the baseline, she finished it off with a wicked backhand up the line pumping her fist to loud cheers.

It turned out to be the difference as she ran off the final four games breaking again in the seventh game before getting to 40-Love setting up three match points. Following a couple of miscues, the unseeded Dokic made no mistake ripping a forehand just out of Wozniacki’s reach sealing the victory.

Remarkably, it’s the first time during her career she’s made the second week of the Australian Open. Ironically, Dokic’s previous best result down under at Melbourne Park was in her debut as a then 15 year-old teenager when she got to the third round.

In fact, before her return which was made possible by winning wildcard matches last month, she hadn’t gotten past the first round since 1999 making this run all the more special.

Dokic will await the winner of the ongoing three set battle between No.5 Ana Ivanovic and 19 year-old Russian powerhouse Alisa Kleybanova with a chance to make the quarterfinals.

Before this tournament began, who would’ve thought it was possible? Given what she’s been through, the tennis must seem easy for Dokic.

There’s not a better story.

With Ivanovic digging out of a double break 0-3 hole squeaking out a second set breaker, she’s trying to make it a pretty good Day Five for women’s higher seeded players. Only Wozniacki didn’t advance.

Top seeded Jelena Jankovic prevailed over Japanese veteran Ai Sugiyama 6-4, 6-4 and No.3 Russian Dinara Safina made quick work of Kaia Kanepi 6-2, 6-2 to advance to Round Four.

Also moving on were Russians Vera Zvonareva (7) and Nadia Petrova (10). No.15 Frenchwoman Alize Cornet needed three sets to eliminate No.19 Slovak Daniela Hantuchova coming back for a 4-6, 6-4, 6-2 victory. Also going three was No.16 Marion Bartoli pulling out a third round win over Czech Lucie Safarova 3-6, 6-2, 6-1.

Updating the Ivanovic-Kleybanova encounter, the Russian strung the upset winning the final set 6-2 for a 7-5, 6-7 (5), 6-2 triumph. The biggest victory of her career. She’ll play Dokic next for a spot in the Final Eight.

Djokovic goes four to edge Delic: Defending men’s champion Novak Djokovic was pushed hard by American Amer Delic but showed great fortitude advancing with a well earned 6-2, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) victory to advance to the Round of 16.

They split the first two sets making it anyone’s match due to the heavy serve and big ball striking of Delic. But a focused Djokovic was able to get the break he needed in set three with his aggressive opponent making enough errors.

However, a game Delic wouldn’t go away going shot for shot with the No.3 seeded Serb making for some entertaining tennis. It eventually needed a tiebreaker to decide and looked like it might go five when the American went up an early minibreak.

But it turned around when Djokovic stopped playing during a rally convinced a Delic shot was long challenging it. If he was wrong, he would’ve been in a 1-4 hole. Replays showed that the Serb had eagle eyes because it missed by about an inch leaving both players to grin before the pivotal next point was played.

A couple of Delic errors allowed Djokovic to go up a minibreak but the fun wasn’t over when one of the 26 year-old former Bosnian’s forehands was ruled out. He instantly challenged and when the replay showed it had caught the line, both players again laughed with the unseeded current Jacksonville, Florida resident giving his close buddy a thumbs up as if to say, ‘I gotcha back.’

Unfortunately, it was the last laugh because Djokovic had a little too much winning the biggest points to pull out the entertaining affair.

Showing good sportsmanship, the two hugged and congratulated each other on a well played match. If only the same could’ve been said off the court where some ugliness took place with a female getting hit by a chair forcing Australian Open security to toss out a few spectators.

It was a sad way to conclude such a great match.

In other men’s action, American Andy Roddick (7) kept it going with a straight set victory over 36 year-old veteran Magician Fabrice Santoro 6-3, 6-4, 6-2. The 27 year-old whose best results down under have come in odd years making three semis blitzed Santoro with 22 aces and 50 winners.

He’ll next meet Tommy Robredo, who straight setted Lu Yen-Hsun 6-1, 6-3, 6-2. If Roddick wins, he could setup a U.S. Open rematch with Djokovic assuming the man they call Nole beats the Mardy Fish-Marcos Baghdatis winner currently underway.

Another men’s seed who advanced included No.8 Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro, who needed four sets to eliminate Gilles Muller 6-7 (5), 7-5, 6-3, 7-5.

Meanwhile, gifted 20 year-old Croat Marin Cilic (19) ousted No.11 Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6 (5), 6-3, 6-4 setting up a Round of 16 match against Del Potro.

Also going on now is Stanislas Wawrinka (15) and Tomas Berdych with the 20th seeded Czech looking to finish off the Swiss in four.

As for the big third round match, Roger Federer has captured the first two sets over former 2005 winner Marat Safin leading 6-3, 6-2, 2-2. If Federer prevails, he would get Berdych who prevailed in four 4-6, 6-1, 6-3, 6-4 matching his best result down under (2007, 2008-4th Round).

In case anyone didn’t catch it, Venus Williams is out. The sixth seeded older sister of three-time Australian Open champ Serena Williams was knocked out by shy Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro in three competitive sets 2-6, 6-3, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena.

Her second round ouster is the biggest upset so far in the season’s first grand slam. While younger sis didn’t play her best saving six set points before coming back to straight set Gisela Dulko 6-3, 7-5, bigger sis couldn’t hold off 20 year-old Suarez Navarro, who following a shaky first set played outstanding tennis to string the upset.

The second-year pro warmed to the task riding an early break to claim the middle set. Despite being smaller in stature, the 46th ranked player began dictating play winning long rallies from the baseline with a punishing one handed backhand reminiscent of Williams’ retired slam killer Justine Henin.

As the match went on, Suarez Navarro became more confident standing her ground during points and going shot for shot with the seven-time slam winner.

Even falling behind a break 2-5 in the deciding frame didn’t deter the cool Spaniard’s focus. Instead, she ratcheted up her level even more striking the forehand better eventually breaking back with a forehand down the line for one of 26 winners to get within a game of squaring the match.

Not surprisingly, she still had to save a match point getting help from Venus on an errant return before holding to even it at five apiece.

Sensing an upset, the night time Laver Arena capacity crowd roared with approval pulling for the underdog. Continuing to be unfazed by the pressure, Suarez Navarro broke a second straight time drawing a Venus forehand a couple of inches wide to take a 6-5 lead.

Williams challenged but didn’t get the call leaving the talented Spaniard who cracked the quarters at last year’s French Open to serve for the match. After they split the first two points, Suarez Navarro got the better of the rallies taking the next couple setting up double match point to murmurs.

Despite being unable to convert the first chance misfiring wide, she didn’t allow Venus to get to Deuce taking control early during a well played final point whipping a crosscourt forehand which got a short reply into the net for the biggest win of her career.

The emotional Spaniard pumped her fist before being congratulated by a very gracious Williams, who later took the defeat well understanding that it just wasn’t her day. She didn’t perform poorly by any stretch breaking her opponent the same amount (Venus-4 of 8, Suarez Navarro-4 of 6) while netting two more winners (28-26) and even winning one more total point (89-88).

Unfortunately, it was Suarez Navarro’s big night. Following the huge upset, a grinning Spaniard had very little to say during a cute postmatch interview on court referring to Rod Laver Arena as “a big court, no?” to chuckles.

When asked by an Australian Open commentator what she did differently in the last two sets, she just laughed while a fan yelled, “She won.”

No matter how shy Suarez Navarro was, she was the better player on this day.

She’ll next meet another Spaniard Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez for a spot in the Round of 16 with the winner of Anabel Medina Garriques-Flavia Pennetta awaiting.

Venus wasn’t the only seed to fall with No.14 Patty Schnyder sent packing by Frenchwoman Virginie Razzano 6-3, 6-1.

Seeded women who advanced to Round Three included No.4 Elena Dementieva, No.8 Svetlana Kuznetsova, No.13 Victoria Azarenka, No.18 Slovak Dominika Cibulkova, 2006 Aussie champ Amelie Mauresmo (20), No.22 Zheng Jie and No.31 Ukrainian Alona Bondarenko.

On tap for Day Five includes an enticing Round Three match between comeback kid Jelena Dokic and Denmark teen Caroline Wozniacki. Other potential good matches include No.16 Marion Bartoli taking on Czech Lucie Safarova and No.15 Frenchwoman Alize Cornet battling 2008 semifinalist Daniela Hantuchova.

Blake through to Round Three: For a second consecutive round, American James Blake cruised prevailing in straights over Frenchman Sebastien De Chaunac 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.

The 29 year-old No.9 seed whose best performance down under came last year when he reached the quarters made it a couple of good days in a row for American tennis with Mardy Fish setting up an enticing third round encounter versus former finalist Marcos Baghdatis along with Andy Roddick coming back to beat Xavier Malisse.

During an interview, Blake also noted the two set comeback by Amer Delic over tough ranked Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu. The vet will next have to deal with defending champion Novak Djokovic.

As for Blake, he’ll get a stiff challenge of his own from No.18 Russian Igor Andreev, who needed five before eliminating talented Latvian Ernests Gulbis 6-4, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, 6-4.

Roddick will take on tricky 36 year-old Magician Fabrice Santoro.

Also needing five sets was 2008 Wimbledon quarterfinalist Mario Ancic, who won a battle of Croats ousting big server Ivo Karlovic 5-7, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.

No.5 seeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga fought back to beat vet Ivan Ljubicic in four sets saving three set points in a pivotal third set breaker before taking firm control.

Both No.1 Rafael Nadal and No.4 Andy Murray had no trouble advancing on a day that was fairly good to seeded men with No.6 Gilles Simon, Gael Monfils (12), Fernando Gonzalez (13), Fernando Verdasco (14), Nicolas Almagro (17), Radek Stepanek (22), Richard Gasquet (24) and Austria’s Jurgen Melzer (31) moving on.

Federer/Safin Meet Again: The most anticipated match on Day Five will be a 2005 rematch between Roger Federer and unpredictable talented Russian Marat Safin.

It was four years ago that he got the better of the former No.1 saving match point in a fourth set tiebreak before pulling out an epic in five sets. He eventually went on to defeat Lleyton Hewitt in four for the title. It was the second and only other slam the former 2000 U.S. Open champ won.

At age 29, Safin has hinted this could be his final full year on tour which would be ashame as he’s truly one of the most talented players to ever pickup a racket. He’s kinda similar to Goran Ivanisevic, who wound up winning just won major finally taking Wimbledon in a five set classic over Patrick Rafter back in 2001.

Ironically, they’re both identical in terms of personality letting it all hang out giving fans plenty of entertainment. Whether it’s Safin screaming at himself in an unknown language, making a funny face or smashing a racket, he’s one of the most spirited players.

He’s always a good interview as well. But more than that, the big man can play. Thus far, he’s looked good winning his first two matches in straights. Can the most misunderstood player give Federer a run for his money tomorrow?

It shouldn’t be dull.

She rarely does things the easy way on the tennis court. So it wasn’t too surprising that Daniela Hantuchova overcame 41 unforced errors in her straight set 7-6 (11), 6-4 first round win over Aussie Casey Dellacqua to advance to the second round down under on the first day of the Australian Open.

The 25 year-old 2008 semifinalist withstood a stiff challenge from the 23 year-old southpaw who also had a nice run to the Round of 16 a year ago which might explain why both players were tight combining for 89 miscues including more than half in a topsy turvy 67-minute first set that featured plenty of breaks, sloppiness and tense moments.

Having struggled to regain the form which saw her climb into the top 10 before a stress fracture sidetracked her, Hantuchova’s ranking dropped to 19 entering play without much confidence due to dropping two of three matches during tuneups.

The lanky Slovak who resides in Monte Carlo fell behind an early break but recovered to square the first set at four all before her feisty opponent supported by many hometown observers including parents and grandparents broke twice more but couldn’t serve it out. Instead, Hantuchova who had at least 27 of her 41 unforced errors kept battling through twice breaking back fighting off set points.

Part of that was also due to Dellacqua who herself had 30 miscues in the opening set misfiring plenty from the forehand side while a steadier backhand produced a good share of her 27 winners.

The unpredictable set needed a tiebreak which was even more compelling than the inconsistent play with each player taking turns dictating rallies. Though there were still misses, the rallies got better with each going for more on their shots trying to impose their will.

Having led 5-3 and earning a couple of more set points, Dellacqua couldn’t close it out with Hantuchova saving her best for the big moments coming up with one of seven aces and a running forehand winner down the line with the crowd favorite in a winning position extending the breaker.

But it wasn’t without added drama from the spunky Dellacqua, who twice got favorable bounces on net cords including a forehand that just landed over the net allowing her to get a minibreak back with Hantuchova smiling as they changed ends.

But it was the veteran’s guile which proved to be the difference in an excruciating set using a drop shot to throw off Dellacqua’s timing before claiming the breaker 13-11.

Playing with more confidence, Hantuchova converted her fourth break in six chances to surge ahead early in the second. If there was one difference, Dellacqua was just 3-for-11 on those opportunities.

Trailing 3-5, she let it all hang out producing some rare forehand winners to climb out of a Love-30 hole before holding. When a successful challenge helped her claim the first point with Hantuchova looking to serve it out, Dellacqua followed through with a return forehand winner and took the third point to setup triple break point.

However, just when it seemed she’d wilt under the pressure, the No.19 seed stepped up saving all three by playing some good defense and hitting through her shots finishing off one break point with a backhand half volley crosscourt winner.

Following another drop shot which drew an error, Hantuchova played a good point going shot for shot with Dellacqua before a backhand sailed long allowing the Slovak to pump her fist and celebrate a hard fought victory.

The match lasted an hour and 59 minutes. Hantuchova next takes on Frenchwoman Mathilde Johansson after she completed a comeback win over vet American Jill Craybas 6-2, 1-6, 7-5.

Other winners on the women’s side included top seeded Jelena Jankovic, No.3 Russian Dinara Safina, last year’s runner-up No.5 Serb Ana Ivanovic, No.7 Vera Zvonareva, No.10 Nadia Petrova, No.11 Danish Caroline Wozniacki, No.15 Alize Cornet, No.16 Frenchwoman Marion Bartoli and No.17 Anna Chakvetadze.

First round upset victims included No.23 Hungarian Agnes Szavay along with No.27 Russian Maria Kirilenko.

Jelena Dokic returned to the Australian Open overcoming her past to win a first round match.

Emotional Dokic Cherishes Win: At one time during her career, Jelena Dokic was a top ten player who seemed on the verge of greatness ranking as high as No.4 in the world seven years prior.

But off court distractions with her temperamental Dad Tamir getting in the way preventing bigger things from the physically gifted Croat who now is representing Australia. At the more mature age of 25, there’s still time for Dokic to come back up. So far, so good as she followed up her wildcard win in December that allowed her to make the cut with a well earned three set opening round triumph over Tamira Paszek 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

“It’s really a miracle for me [to be back playing and winning],” an emotional Dokic noted while fighting back tears after the long road back from family dissension and a lengthy bout with depression.

“It’s really emotional to win today. What I had to go through, it’s really great to have this win. I don’t think a lot of people know what this means to me.”

Perhaps a better perspective on life along with the overwhelming support of her boyfriend of six years can revive her once promising career. Dokic finished with 34 winners including a crosscourt gem to clinch her first win down under in exactly a decade when the then teenage phenom made a run to the third round.

In her only other appearance since 2001 three years ago, she succumbed to Virginie Razzano in three sets after coming oh so close to winning a first round encounter when a forehand she felt was a winner was ruled out.

“Tennis is not the most important thing in the world, but it’s something that I love. I was very disappointed when I couldn’t play well,” she admitted.

“It was a tough time in my life. I had a lot to go through, a lot of family issues.

Given another chance, Dokic hopes to make the most out of it and will next face Chakvetadze, who was a three set winner.

“After I won the first set I got really nervous. But it’s great. This is huge for me. You know, after pretty much a three-year absence, to start the year with a win at a Grand Slam is really huge for me,” she acknowledged.

“I didn’t really have any goals or expectations for myself for the first three or four months of the year. I just wanted to work really hard and see what I could do.”

He had been handled easily during the first pair of sets both owned by the 21 year-old No.3 ranked Serb who apparently used some post-match Roddick comments regarding his injuries to break the best server in the sport an unheard of four times for a 6-2, 6-3 lead. Prior, he had only been broken three times all tournament.

“That’s not nice, anyhow, to say in front of this crowd that I have 16 injuries and that I’m faking,” a furious Djokovic later acknowledged to Michael Barkan drawing boos once the match was over.

But here was the five years older popular No.8 ranked American refusing to go down easily getting an early break and cruising 6-3 capturing the third set to get back in the match giving the New York bipartisan crowd hopes of a big comeback.

With the former 2003 U.S. Open champion finally in a groove with his serve, he began dictating play taking it to his opponent reversing what had been dished out the first two sets. At three apiece on serve, Roddick took the first three points on Djokovic’s serve setting up triple break point. However, the feisty 2008 Australian Open winner wouldn’t give in right away ratcheting up his serve to fight off all three including the second with a perfectly placed inside out forehand crosscourt near the line.

But before he could find his way out of trouble, a determined Roddick pushed on outhitting him to setup a fourth break point. Certainly, this would be the one which would not only get him that one elusive break he needed but be enough to get him even and take the fourth set. Or so everyone watching thought including USA Network/CBS tennis commentator John McEnroe. When he played a perfect point working a now easily flustered Djokovic side to side before nailing a rocket backhand up the line out of his reach for a winner, Roddick finally had that break and was only a couple of service holds away from giving everyone what they came to see. A fifth and final set.

The perfect way for USA’s 25 years of outstanding Open coverage to bow out for good. When he backed it up with four consecutive aces to go up 5-3, there seemed to be little doubt where such a high stakes match was headed. Following a Djokovic hold, Roddick easily took the first couple of points to go up 30-Love. Two more points from destiny and a pro-Andy crowd rocking like it once had for him when he cameback from a couple of sets and match point down versus David Nalbandian before winning the whole thing. Only instead of the inevitable Hollywood finish we were looking for, those two big points never came.

What followed was shocking. After an errant forehand, Roddick double faulted twice to suddenly give Djokovic three straight and his first break point since the second set. It was the only look the big Serb needed as he got an out wide serve back and then after Roddick approached, Djokovic came up with a perfect topspin backhand lob which was out of reach landing a foot inside the baseline.

“You know what? I honestly don’t feel like they were super-tight doubles,” Roddick said. “I had been playing pretty high-risk, high-reward tennis to get back and I probably wasn’t about to stop.”

Just like that, it was five all. Back on serve. Both players would hold one final time to force the fourth set to a tiebreaker. It would be well played. When it looked like he might be done already trailing by a minibreak, Roddick came up with the goods smacking another backhand winner to get it back on serve 4-5.

Here came the two biggest serves of the night. It was on his racket. Exactly where he preferred it to be. The first serve landed deep in the box and couldn’t be handled by Djokovic clocked at 142. Five-all. One more serve for a chance to setup set point. If he could get this one, just maybe not being able to serve it out moments earlier wouldn’t comeback to haunt him.

Here was the point of the match which Djokovic returned to get into and there was Roddick striking the ball as hard as he could trying his best to get it by his opponent hitting every shot well. Inside out forehands. Backhands better than he’d ever struck for most of his career. But on each one, Djokovic hustled and reached out for getting them back. Finally, he decided to change it up going for a slice backhand drop. Only problem was this one didn’t make it over the net handing the guy on the other side the one big break he needed.

“A bad shot,” Roddick admitted after falling 6-2, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (5).

One big Djokovic serve later, his forehand reply sailed five feet long allowing last year’s runner-up to escape and emphatically point to his chest pounding it almost in anger over the Davis Cup atmosphere and definitely over those comments referencing his health which were really said tongue in cheek by one of the good sports in the game despite what’s at the end of the day a still disappointing career with only one grand slam. The one in which he hugged that trophy after blasting Juan Carlos Ferrero off the court following that comeback versus Nalbandian, who a round earlier that year knocked out Roger Federer. The same guy who hasn’t lost since here in Flushing Meadows.

“It was completely meant in jest,” a disappointed Roddick lamented following one of his toughest defeats when you really felt he had a chance to go all the way much like that special run.

“I should know better. But listen, I joke all the time. I don’t think anyone in their right mind takes me serious.”

To show what kind of character guy he is, he still sought out Djokovic in private clearing up the confusion.

“He made a joke and it was a misunderstanding, so I don’t blame it on him,” Djokovic later indicated an hour later after that postmatch circus which drew the ire. “Maybe I exaggerated and reacted bad in that moment. I apologize.”

What he won’t have to apologize for was summoning up what he needed to finish off a game Roddick who looked poised to do what Tommy Robredo did a round earlier taking it the distance. With already having worked awfully hard to win in four sets over future Croat star Marin Cilic and then overcoming the elements to outlast Robredo, no way Djokovic wanted any part of another extra set. Perhaps he got some help from an unlikely source but he wasn’t saying afterwards.

Instead, he’ll advance to a rematch of last year’s final in which he blew leads in the first two sets tossing away set points before losing in straights to four-time defending champion Federer. He can take solace knowing he exacted revenge ousting the 12-time grand slam winner down under in this same round also in straights even if the Swiss Maestro wasn’t 100 percent battling mono. What tennis player is totally healthy by the end of a challenging two week major?

With the women’s semis scheduled for later today, Djokovic knows he could get another break due to the weather forecast which calls for rain all day tomorrow on Super Saturday. The Open organizers have already started making arrangements with networks to shift the women’s final to Sunday and the men’s to Monday.

That certainly couldn’t hurt his chances. Especially with a very focused Federer waiting looking to pay him back and prove he still has what it takes to win for a fifth straight time and take the final major of what’s been labeled a disappointing season. This despite runner-up in Roland Garros again, losing his Wimbledon crown in epic fashion and a now record 18 straight semifinal appearances in slams.

As for Roddick, he referenced Djokovic’s sarcasm which as recently as last year included dead on impersonations which those same New Yorkers which jeered him loved.

“I figure if you’re going to joke and imitate other people and do the whole deal, then you should take it. Listen, if someone makes fun of me I’m most likely going to laugh,” Roddick pointed out. “I’m sorry he took it that way. … I don’t think I was over the line. It wasn’t my intention, and, you know, I’m sorry he felt that way. Maybe I did him a favor tonight.”

Probably. And in the process, hurt himself though in the end, it was the vaunted serve and that huge point late in the breaker which send him packing.

It might not be the end result he wanted with having sought busy Davis Cup captain and CBS/ESPN analyst Patrick McEnroe’s advice along with coming in with the hottest fiancee anyone’s ever seen in breathtaking SI swimsuit model Brooklyn Decker. So, it’s not all bad for Roddick.

Far from it. But we bet he wished he had those couple of serves over.