Roddick Makes a Racket at the Open as American Hopes Thin

NEW YORK - Andy Roddick launched 42 aces in a late-night second-round win at the U.S. Open, keeping alive the American men's increasingly lonely quest to end a five-year Grand Slam drought.

Roddick, the 2003 champion and the last American man to win a major, has shouldered the nation's tennis hopes for most of the decade. His booming serve remains the sport's most reliable weapon — the 42 aces were an Open record for a four-set match.

"I feel like I can play with anybody on this stuff," Roddick said of the hard courts. "The draw's the draw. You play who's in front of you."

The drought weighs on the tournament, which built its prime-time schedule for years around American stars. With the Williams sisters on the women's side, Roddick and James Blake carry the flag for the men.

Roddick, who turned 26 Saturday, skipped the Beijing Olympics to prepare for the Open — a decision he called the hardest of his career.

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Associated Press writers contributed to this report.

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